GARY Bowyer has confirmed City are keeping tabs on Mark Cullen.

The 27-year-old striker was released by Blackpool after five years with the club.

Cullen scored the Wembley winner under Bowyer when the Tangerines won the play-off final in 2017 – and his former boss has not ruled out a possible reunion with the Bantams.

Bowyer said: “He’s somebody I know and scored the winner for us at Wembley to clinch promotion.

“Cully is always going to have a special place in my heart because of what he did that season and that particular day.

“The poor lad has had a terrible time with injuries but that’s one that we’d certainly monitor.”

Cullen, who had a brief loan spell at City with Peter Taylor as a teenager, scored 10 goals in the last 11 games during Blackpool’s promotion from League Two in 2017.

He bagged a hat-trick in the semi-final first leg win over Luton and then notched the decisive goal in the 2-1 success against Exeter in the final.

But he has been dogged by injuries in the two years since.

Cullen underwent a hamstring operation and missed eight months of Blackpool’s first season back in League One.

He suffered a stress fracture to his leg in November last season before a groin problem hampered him again after joining Carlisle on loan in the January transfer window.

Blackpool had the option of extending Cullen’s deal by a further 12 months but opted against it. Carlisle are likely to provide competition should City decide to make a move.

City are also being linked with free agent centre half Ryan Edwards following his exit from Plymouth.

Bowyer worked with Edwards previously coming through the ranks at Blackburn and would be keen to do so again. But the Bantams boss expects plenty of competition for his signature.

Bowyer said: “Ryan is a very good centre half and I would imagine he would have interest from higher than League Two with how he’s performed over the last couple of years.

“He has just kept getting better. But if there was ever a chance, we would certainly be interested for sure.”

But Bowyer has played down reports in the north-east that City are planning a loan move for young Newcastle midfielder Matty Longstaff.

Bowyer, who signed Longstaff’s older brother Sean for Blackpool, watched Newcastle under-21s’ Premier League Cup final defeat to Everton last week but insists there is nothing in the speculation.

He added: “I was at the game on Wednesday and obviously with my relationship with the family from working with Sean, somebody has put two and two together and got a lot more than four.

“Sean did fantastic for me at Blackpool and has kicked on.

“But to be fair, that was the first time I had seen his brother play. There has not been a single conversation about that.”