It will be nearly Christmas before Peter Atherton is likely to return to City's colours.

That is the latest bad news to hit the injury-ravaged defender.

Atherton, pictured, is recovering from an operation to repair a damaged tendon in his right ankle which he suffered in the pre-season friendly against Coleraine.

Immediate forecasts predicted Atherton would be out for a couple of months. But now the Bantams fear it will be at least November before he is able to play again.

Nicky Law said: "It's a massive blow for us. Pete organises things on the pitch and keeps it together."

Physio Steve Redmond said: "Peter is immobilised for nigh on six weeks and will be restricted for another two weeks after that. There is quite a lot of rehab that will need to be done afterwards so realistically you are easily talking about three months."

Atherton, who signed a new two-year contract in June, has been dogged with problems since joining the Bantams in 2000.

But City's other pre-season casualty Mark Bower could be back in three weeks from his torn ankle ligaments.

Redmond added: "It's a matter of waiting for the swelling to go down. But Mark is a young lad and reacting well to treatment and we're hoping Mother Nature works a little bit quicker with him."