GARY Bowyer admitted he was surprised Chris Taylor was still available after linking up again with him.

The versatile midfielder’s short-term deal gives the City boss cover for the loss of injured creative trio Jamie Devitt, Matty Palmer and Jordan Gibson.

Taylor had spent the early part of pre-season with the Bantams but they were not able to offer a deal at the time and it appeared he would sign elsewhere.

But when that didn’t happen Bowyer invited him back to train with the squad again after learning Palmer would be missing for a potentially lengthy period.

Bowyer said: “He went to Bury and obviously unfortunately that didn’t work out and we signed one or two in that area.

“The last I heard was when somebody from Scotland rang me for a recommendation and I told them (to sign him) all day long.

“We weren’t in a position at the time where we could sign anybody else. Then it all changed but there were others that we took in.”

A phone call from Taylor rekindled Bowyer’s interest when he was waiting on the news with Palmer’s knee injury.

Bowyer added: “I’m surprised that he hadn’t gone anywhere but there’s quite a few (free agents) like that.

“I was surprised nobody had snapped up Craig Conway until recently. Jamie Ward, who we played against recently, is another.

“It is staggering but it just shows the way the game is a little bit.”

Bowyer has no qualms with Taylor’s fitness levels having been without a club since leaving Blackpool in the summer.

“It’s very difficult, not just mentally and physically, because you’ve got to push yourself to a level,” he said. “It’s not as easy when you’re not training at the intensity of the group.

“But Tayls had been on trial and training with a couple of clubs just to keep his eye in. He’s fine and ready to go.

“It’s really frustrating for us to lose three of our creative players. But it’s testament to the squad that we are still finding ways to win.”