Bradford Park Avenue boss John Deacey is tracking a striker to add to his squad but he is also keeping former player Amjad Iqbal under close scrutiny.

Although he is Bradford born, Iqbal is a full Pakistan international and has played in World Cup qualifiers for the land of his parents.

Known locally as ‘Ammers’, after coming through as a youngster at Thackley he has played for Farsley Celtic and had two spells at Avenue.

He also had extensive trials with Football League clubs, most notably Burnley when he car-shared with a certain Robbie Blake on their daily journeys to and from Lancashire.

Iqbal has been out of the game for almost a year after suffering a career-threatening injury while playing for Farsley AFC.

In a game against Armthorpe Welfare at the start of the last campaign his leg was shattered in a bad challenge from Ben Muirhead, the former Bradford City winger and Farsley Celtic team-mate of Iqbal.

The player spent a long period in hospital before he could get his life back on track - he is an industrial chemist after studying at Bradford University - let alone consider rehabilitation for his football career.

It appears that the worst is over and ‘Ammers’ could be returning to football in this city imminently. Without actually declaring his interest, Avenue manager Deacey said: “We put him into a full-scale game the midweek before last and Amjad played and did well. He looked comfortable during the game and after it.

“It was against very good opposition, NCEL standard, and it was a game with an edge - a bit like a cup-tie really.

"Ammers didn’t just get through it - he breezed through it and looked very good. It was lovely to see because he is one of the nicest people you could meet and one of the best players I have worked with.

“It is no secret that we need a couple of players in our squad because we only have 17 players and we need to strengthen certain areas.

"We are looking up front mainly because we know Matty (James who has a back injury) is a long-term casualty.”