Clarke Oduor hopes returning players will lift Bradford City

The Bantams currently sit 10th in a congested League Two table as they switch attention to the FA Cup second round at Morecambe this afternoon.

Just nine points separate Wimbledon in the last play-off spot with 21st-placed Tranmere in a dog-eat-dog fourth tier.

City are three points off the top seven but Graham Alexander is hoping to boost his options in the next few games with players returning from long-term injury.

That’s why Oduor is hedging his bets with a comparison to the team that finished one point short of the play-offs.

“It’s a bit early to tell with the positives we had last season and then with the qualities we’ve got this year,” he said.

“It’s just about focusing on trying to do better than we did last year, we just came up short. It’s taking that extra step.

“We’ve got players coming back now and I think it’s a good time, especially in December and January when there’s loads of games, Saturday, Tuesday, so it’s good to have everyone back and available.

“Everybody wants to play every game but I think there are moments when rotation will benefit the squad and being able to give lads a rest and bringing in other lads who can perform as well.

“The biggest thing is to just keep your mindset right before the game.

“Just make sure that you try to come on, as best you can and then hopefully you do better. At the end of the day, it’s the gaffer’s choice.”

Oduor’s versatility has seen him used in midfield, on the wing and at wing-back. Alexander rates him as one of the best technical players in his squad – as well as throwing down the challenge to earn a regular starting role.

Oduor added: “I enjoy a manager who sees your strengths and wants you to succeed in life.

“If there’s conversations to be had, he’ll let you know what he feels you need to work on to get you in the team.

“He tells me to try and be as positive as I can be on the pitch and I try and follow that.”

An appearance at Morecambe would be a first for the 25-year-old, who is yet to play for City in the FA Cup.

He was injured for the win over Aldershot earlier this month and was an unused sub against Wycombe last year.

But it is the competition where he made his senior debut in January 2019 as a teenager for Leeds.

Clarke Oduor reached the fourth round with Barnsley in 2020 (Image: PA)

Oduor came off the bench late on in a 2-1 third-round loss at QPR – and remembers it well.

“I trained with the first team the day before as we usually did and was expecting to just have lunch in the hall.

“I was told I was in the squad and would be travelling down and then I got on for the last 10 minutes. It was absolutely something I will never forget.

“I had a few touches of the ball, I didn’t get many. But the big thing was just getting on the pitch.”

Oduor got as far as round four with Barnsley a year later where they were beaten 4-2 at Portsmouth.

He then made it to the third round on loan at Hartlepool in 2022 but was recalled by Barnsley the week before they hosted Stoke.

Oduor is still waiting to be involved in a big tie – and would love that to follow if City can negotiate their trip to the Mazuma Stadium this afternoon.

“Hopefully that is to come. It would be nice if we could get out there, perform well, win and impress.

“If you win in the cup competitions, you can build that momentum and take it into the league as well. It’s a positive.”