DAVID Hopkin admits he does not know when Jake Reeves will be ready to play for City again.

The injury-jinxed midfielder has not kicked a ball in anger for 13 months – and it appears he is no nearer being involved.

Reeves, whose last game was against former club Wimbledon in January last year, had a groin operation in April.

READ MORE: Long-term casualty Reeves still feeling pain

He was able to join in at the start of pre-season training but a series of setbacks have prevented him from featuring at all in the current campaign.

When asked about his progress, Hopkin said: “Jake’s just become a father, so congratulations on that and look forward to a few sleepless nights!

“Since I’ve come in, I’ve never seen Jake train. It’s difficult for me and it’s just as difficult for him.

“He’s had his issues with his hips and his groin. Then he’s obviously picked up a calf strain.

“It’s been tough for him but that’s the only update I have.”

Reeves still has another year on the Valley Parade deal he signed in the summer of 2017 for a fee thought to be around £150,000.

Having been an ever-present in his final season at Wimbledon, playing every single minute on the pitch in League One, he made 27 City appearances under Stuart McCall before the groin problem took its toll.

Hopkin remains in the dark about his future playing prospects.

The Bantams boss added: “There’s no real way I can say he’s close to returning and playing or training.

“I don’t know how far away he is.

“Every time we get something sorted, he seems to pick up another niggle. It’s frustrating for him, frustrating for us and I’m sure it’s frustrating for the medical staff.”

City go into this afternoon’s Valley Parade meeting with Fleetwood knowing that a sixth win in seven home games could lift them out of the League One drop zone and possibly up as many as five places.

Hopkin said: “Everybody is realising now that when you’re playing Bradford, you’re in for a hard game.

“It was difficult when I came in with certain circumstances.

“We had a lot of injuries and a lot of players who weren’t fit. It was no secret.

“Now we’re starting to get there. The players are buying into everything and trying to make themselves better.

“A lot of teams who come to Valley Parade look at the stadium and the number of fans and raise their game.

“But we’ve won five of the last six home games and we need to maintain that.”

Hopkin has been pleased with how quickly deadline-day recruits Jacob Butterfield and Billy Clarke have settled in their first week.

"They have both looked fantastic in training," he added.

"It would have been a bit unfair to have thrown them in the deep end at Wycombe, having only trained on the Friday morning.

"But they will come into my thoughts for the next few games."