Injury-ravaged Bradford City have sent an SOS to Newcastle centre-half Stephen Caldwell.

The Bantams hope to get Scottish international Caldwell on a month's loan to help ease a crisis which could see them without 13 senior players.

Boss Jim Jefferies may be forced into using Ashley Ward, who scored on his return for the reserves last night, and Lee Sharpe against Rotherham on Saturday, even though both have hardly played because of injuries.

Stuart McCall, Wayne Jacobs, Andy Myers and Gary Walsh are all on the treatment table while top scorer Eoin Jess is off with the effects of flu.

Robert Molenaar and Gunnar Halle are both suspended for five yellow cards while Peter Atherton, David Wetherall and Jamie Lawrence are still out long term.

A further scan on Gareth Whalley showed his groin problem will take longer to heal and the Bantams may have to get through the holiday period without Andy Tod (groin) and Gary Locke, whose hamstring flared up during the extra training session on Sunday.

Jefferies admitted: "I've never known this sort of situation as a manager at any club. To have so many senior players all out at the same time is unbelievable.

"You are only allowed a couple on loan at the same time and with Matt Etherington here that means we can only bring in one other player. We've got to look at the right-side centre-half where we haven't got anybody fit."

Twenty-one-year-old Caldwell, capped by Scotland against Poland in April, has just returned to St James' Park after a month's spell at Blackpool where he made seven appearances.

He played in three of Newcastle's Intertoto Cup games pre-season but has not featured in the Premiership although Bobby Robson has said he is not for sale.

But Caldwell would fit the bill during the hectic spell leading up to Christmas and the New Year.

Jefferies said: "I've seen him play a couple of times in the reserves, he's a good defender who is comfortable on the ball.

"He's not in the Newcastle first team and coming here on loan would help him get a better level of competition."

Last season Caldwell scored the winner against City in Newcastle's 4-3 Worthington Cup win.