Mark Prudhoe is waiting to see if his star showing against play-off chasing Birmingham City will be rewarded with a place in the Bradford City side for Saturday's trip to Tranmere.

The 34-year-old was keen to play for the reserves last night at Shrewsbury but manager Paul Jewell pulled him out of the squad.

And with first choice Gary Walsh having missed the first three days training this week because his father is seriously ill, the signs are that veteran Prudhoe will keep his place.

Jewell is not revealing who will keep goal but Prudhoe looks the likely favourite after his magnificent display in the 0-0 draw with Birmingham.

It was his first appearance in two months for City and only his seventh in all for the club after coming into the side late on.

Jewell said: "Mark has been brilliant and is a model professional. Despite being dropped early in the season he has never let it affect him and, to be honest, has probably worked even harder.

"We train quite a lot in the afternoon and at times we have to drag him off the training field because he enjoys playing so much."

Defender Darren Moore made a welcome return for Bradford City Reserves last night in their 2-2 draw at Shrewsbury Town.

The 23-year-old has played just once for the first team since mid-December after having his season decimated by injury.

Assistant manager Chris Hutchings said the defender was supposed to play just the first half at Shrewsbury, but instead lasted for an hour.

A goal five minutes from time denied the Bantams victory after Lawrence Davies and Dennis Sepp had given them a 2-1 lead.

Hutchings said: "Darren trained on Tuesday so we decided to give him 45 minutes to see if he could get through. We decided to leave him on for another 15 minutes as he seemed to be doing very well."

City's assistant boss was also pleased by the team's performance against a side who could have gone top of the Pontin's League Second Division if they had won.

Meanwhile, City chairman Geoffrey Richmond was today in London attending a meeting of club representatives concerned with possible changes to the Nationwide League.

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