City fans have been promised a glimpse of the real David Graham from now on.

The on-loan striker has got the chance to stake a regular claim to play alongside Dean Windass.

And Colin Todd is hoping that incentive will inspire the Scot to rekindle the goal-scoring form he showed in League One during a stint with Huddersfield last season.

Graham's tap-in against Port Vale was only his second goal since arriving at Valley Parade in the summer.

But Todd believes it could be a springboard for an upturn in fortunes for the one-time Rangers hitman, who has always boasted a prolific goals ratio in the lower divisions.

Graham scored 45 times in 98 league starts with Torquay earlier in his career and nine in 15 outings during his loan spell at the Galpharm Stadium.

Todd has been wrestling between Graham and Eddie Johnson to partner Windass in the City frontline. He has reluctantly chopped and changed between them so far but reckons Graham's improved efforts last week may have earned him the opportunity to keep the shirt.

Todd said: "I've made it clear all along that I didn't want to rotate. I wanted one of them to give me a performance which said that they deserved to get the position.

"I had a chat with David and tried to say to him in a nice manner that he hadn't done himself justice. He'd had some fair performances but of late he hadn't been the David Graham that we know.

"It was about time that he got himself on the scoresheet and I was delighted to see him do that. It was a poacher's goal because he was in there ready to put away the chance.

"I want him to be the last man and furthest up the pitch. Sometimes he's been trying to do what Windass does and come looking for the ball but we don't want both of them trying that.

"All goals are important but it's always pleasing when a striker scores because they thrive on confidence. Deano was disappointed he didn't get one against Port Vale, which is a good sign."

With no midweek game, Johnson is having a run of extended treatment aimed at curing the ankle problem he suffered at Boston in pre-season.

"He hasn't been feeling quite right lately and I've been watching his mobility," said Todd.

"He has been limping towards the end of matches, complaining about knocks on it, and hopefully a week of work will help."

Meanwhile, Ben Muirhead begins his comeback after a hernia operation by playing for the reserves at Barnsley tonight.

City's side will also include former Cyprus under-21 international Alexis Nicolas, a holding midfielder who played 46 times for Brighton before being released when they were relegated from the Championship.

Nicolas, 23, was a trainee at Aston Villa and then joined Chelsea, where he made one Premiership start in February 2004.