Steve Schumacher today committed himself to City for another two years.

The former Everton midfielder has handed Colin Todd a huge pre-season boost by signing a new deal at the club.

Schumacher's present contract was due to run out next summer but it has now been replaced by a deal that will keep him at Valley Parade until the summer of 2007.

At that stage he will still be under 24 and therefore City could command a fee if he moves on.

Talks have been going on in the background for some time and the 21-year-old is delighted that a deal has been struck.

He said: "At last I can concentrate on another good season."

Todd added: "We're getting another good player and I expect a lot of him. I hope he goes on to better things.

"This proves we are determined to keep the better players at this football club."

Former Leeds striker Jamie McMaster will be involved in City's friendly at Bury tonight.

The 22-year-old Australian is on the look-out for a new club after being released by Leeds.

He finished last season on a short-term contract with Chesterfield and played eight times but was not kept on.

Now he is looking for a fresh start after a chequered career at Elland Road.

Todd is in the market for a fifth frontman.

The City boss said: "Jamie came in for training on Monday and while he is nowhere near as fit as the other lads, I thought he showed up very well when we had a practice game.

"He played in midfield but I want to see him as a striker and this will be a chance to do that.

"I watched him play up front last year for Leeds in a friendly at Darlington and he was very impressive. But I think he has lost his way a little bit. It's not really taken off for him as much as he would have hoped and maybe the penny has dropped after leaving Leeds. He's another one that I will monitor."

Big things were expected of McMaster when he arrived in England five years ago. But after making four substitute appearances in his first season at Elland Road, he found opportunities hard to come by once Peter Reid was sacked.

While James Milner and Aaron Lennon shot into the first-team picture, McMaster found himself a regular in the reserves.

He made his full debut at Ipswich in November 2002 for Coventry during a loan spell.

McMaster played 13 times for Leeds but made just one senior start against Swindon in the Carling Cup. He featured for four different clubs last term with loans at Swindon and Peterborough before joining Chesterfield in March.

Steven Craig, who has also been training with the Bantams this week, will not play tonight because of the insurance position with Aberdeen. But City are taking a look at Freddy Sandos, a 24-year-old Angolan international, who is coming for a trial after playing for Leeds on their tour of Norway.