Bradford City have been plunged into an injury crisis as they head for Coventry on a pride-restoring mission.

The Bantams are keen to salvage their self-respect after the 6-1 chastening at Leeds as they sign off against one of next season's First Division rivals.

But boss Jim Jefferies has been left scrabbling around for fit bodies as the club casualty list grows to nightmare proportions.

Definitely out are David Wetherall, Gary Walsh, who had an operation yesterday morning, Robert Molenaar, Billy McKinlay and Mark Bower while Jamie Lawrence is away playing for Jamaica in the Copa Caribe.

Skipper Stuart McCall has not trained all week after suffering a twisted knee during the Elland Road thrashing. And now Coventry old boy Eoin Jess is on the treatment table with a stomach muscle strain he picked up yesterday.

Midfield is the area where City's resources have been stretched to breaking point and Scott Kerr stands by to make his Premiership debut after two games earlier this season in the Intertoto and Worthington Cups.

Gary Locke, who did a good job as a second-half substitute against Leeds, will start alongside him.

Jefferies said: "We've got no choices in midfield, it's ridiculous. It's the last thing we need after the Leeds result.

"But we must try to bounce back from that. Leeds was a big game for the supporters and it can't have been easy for them to have to watch.

"I thought they were absolutely magnificent and if the players need to know how much it means to play for Bradford they should remember the backing they got on Sunday.

"The players have got to appreciate that and realise how disappointing it must have been for the fans."

McCall said: "Everyone's hurting about the Leeds result and we really want to finish our last game in the Premiership on a high.

"Hopefully we can get a bit of pride back but it's going to be difficult with so many players out.

"I'm desperate to be fit but I haven't been able to train all week.

"I had an x-ray yesterday which showed there was still swelling there and if I do anything on it, that will just increase.

"Until the fluid goes, I can't bend it so I haven't been able to do anything apart from some gym work.

"The gaffer had to reduce the squad and injuries were always going to cost us. But we really are down to the bare bones."

Jess was keen to prove a point against his former side.

He spent 18 months at Highfield Road and twice helped them avoid the drop. But the Scot managed only one goal in 38 league games and felt he did not do himself justice.

Jess said: "It was frustrating but it didn't work out for different reasons.

"I enjoyed my short time there and made some good friends and a few of the players are still around like Paul Williams, Richard Shaw, Gary Breen and Paul Telfer."

One significant difference this time around is that Coventry's annual escapology act has failed. After 34 years in the top flight, they will be following the Bantams through the relegation trapdoor.

Jess said: "It must be so hard to take for them after this many years. Coventry have always been there or thereabouts in the relegation area but just scraped through in the end.

"I remember playing for them in the last game of the season at Tottenham in 1997 when people said we had no chance. We had to win and hope that other results went in our favour.

"We managed to dig deep and got the points and all the other scores worked out. It was an unbelievable.

"Gordon Strachan is so passionate about the game, so going down this season must hit him very hard."