Liverpool reserve Stephen Warnock today joined City on a month's loan.

The 20-year-old defensive midfielder is likely to go straight in at Walsall on Saturday as City try to bounce back from the dismal Worthington Cup loss to Wrexham.

Warnock, who is no relation to Sheffield United boss Neil, operates mainly on the left side as either a full back or wing back and will bolster Law's options in an area where the team has really struggled.

The youngster - Law's third loan signing of the season, after Michael Proctor and Steve Banks - has yet to play a senior match at Anfield but the Bantams boss has been impressed from watching him play in the reserves.

Warnock, who is registered for the Champions' League, shone in Liverpool's recent 7-1 romp at Odsal.

Law said: "Stephen is very strong both physically and mentally and is very versatile. He can play in a number of positions and made a massive breakthrough in the Liverpool reserve team in 2001. He can play in midfield or defence and is a much needed addition to our depleted squad."

Law has already proved his track record for unearthing talent stuck on the Merseyside sidelines with Tom Kearney from Everton.

Warnock's arrival will ease the pressure on Lewis Emanuel, who is coming back from minor knee surgery. He is expected to be ready again in a fortnight.

But City will again have to do without skipper David Wetherall at Bescot Stadium. The skipper has not played since the opening day of the season because of a hip injury and had hoped to end a five-week absence against Walsall.

But he is only just returning to training with the first team and Law will not rush him back for fear of him breaking down again.

Law said: "David's had an injection in his hip and is maybe making enough progress to train later in the week. But obviously he's now been out for a while so he needs to get some fitness work in.

"Hopefully he might be ready to play for the reserves against Aston Villa on Wednesday and then we can push him on.

"David is an intelligent player who doesn't need loads of games in the reserves. But he just needs to get in there and get his timing back and he'll be all right, as he was at the back end of last season."