Paul Heckingbottom has declared himself fit for Saturday - and raring to go for the rest of City's season.

The on-loan left back underwent a punishing fitness run around Valley Parade today and reported no ill-effects from his calf strain.

He intends to push himself forward for the daunting pre-Christmas trip to third-placed Peterborough after the Rotherham postponement ensured he missed no action.

Heckingbottom said: "I was delighted with that. Everyone was coming in moaning about the game being called off but I was sat there with a big smile on my face.

"I'm feeling fine now and as long as there's no reaction when I report for training then I should be fit for the game."

Heckingbottom is among the group of players whose City futures are up in the air. His second spell at the club is due to end after the New Year's Day trip to Accrington - and he is keeping his fingers crossed that a deal can be agreed with parent club Barnsley for the second half of the campaign.

"There are only two weeks left of the loan so something needs to be sorted. I don't know what Bradford or Barnsley are thinking but I would definitely like to stay.

"I'm playing regularly, they are a good set of lads to work with and the gaffer and Wayne Jacobs are great. Hopefully something can be sorted out very soon."

Heckingbottom is one of three players Stuart McCall has borrowed from Barnsley, although it seems unlikely that Tom Harban and Nathan Joynes will be kept on after hardly featuring.

Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu, like Heckingbottom, is hoping his club Gillingham will okay a season-long stay.

McCall said: "It's on-going at the minute and I've spoken to Simon Davey. But I need to discuss it with Hecky.

"I've also spoken to G's manager Mark Stimson and he's waiting for the chairman to get back off holiday to see what they want to do. We've got to find out from the clubs what their thoughts are and then take it from there."

Alex Rhodes, who returned from injury for the reserves, and Kyle Nix are also waiting to find out if they have done enough to stay on after their short-term contracts run out. McCall is not giving any clues away.

He added: "Alex has been unfortunate being out with injury but there are a few games left before his deal is up on January 9. Nixy's done well but we've still got a bit of time to make our decision."

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