It is another one of those coincidences that football specialises in.

As City face up to losing a centre half, another has just moved 360 miles north on loan for the rest of the season.

Luke Oliver’s injury at the weekend has left Phil Parkinson considering his defensive options. But Steve Williams is out of the equation after heading across the border to join Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

The Scottish Highlands offer some of the most spectacular scenery in Britain. A great place to take stock and revive a career that seems to have stalled at Valley Parade.

Williams still has another season to run on the three-year contract he signed with City in June 2010. But his opportunities have been severely limited.

Peter Jackson said the current campaign was “make or break” for the elegant defender. Williams has barely been able to break the surface.

A torn thigh put paid to the first three months, other than a Carling Cup outing at Leeds which just aggravated the problem. And just two appearances for Phil Parkinson show he has drifted well down the pecking order.

So the offer of regular football in the Scottish Premier League comes as a welcome lifeline.

Stuart McCall, the manager who gave him his Bantams chance, certainly thinks so.

Ironically, Williams made his Caley debut on Saturday against McCall’s Motherwell, coming off the bench for the last 15 minutes of a 1-0 win.

McCall believes that working with Terry Butcher and Maurice Malpas at Inverness can get a potentially gifted player back on track.

He said: “Working under big Butch and Maurice, two good international defenders, can only improve him.

“Inverness are a club on the up, well run and they’ve got a good staff working there. It’s a great chance for Willo.

“If he can get his head right and get in the side, then Butch will stick by him. He’s a manager who has done well over the years bringing in English lads.

“It’s a good learning curve. When you go out on loan, especially that far, your attitude has got to be spot on.

“But how many players not getting a game in League Two are given the opportunity to play against the likes of Celtic and Rangers?

“Inverness have got Celtic coming up in the Scottish Cup, which is a great game to be involved in. Playing in front of 60,000 at Celtic Park or 50,000 at Ibrox has got to improve him as a player.”

It seems a long time since Williams was trying to catch McCall’s eye on the first day of pre-season in July 2009. Even then the former barber from Bamber Bridge stood out with his languid style on the artificial pitch at Keighley’s Marley Stadium.

Within a few weeks, McCall was convinced after a faultless display against Premier League new boys Burnley at Valley Parade. An impressive debut year as a pro promised much but Williams has found it hard to kick on another level.

McCall added: “I’ve got mixed emotions about Willo because I’m slightly saddened and disappointed he hasn’t gone on to do what we all hoped.

“When I brought him in with big James (Hanson) and Scotty Neilson, I saw them and OB (Luke O’Brien) as the future of the club for years to come.

“I hoped they would develop with City and then either go up the divisions with them or the club could hopefully sell them on for a good fee. They all had that potential.

“Willo came in as a former hairdresser and non-league player and was going to make mistakes in his first taste of full-time football.

“I remember one when he got sent off against Cheltenham and gave away a penalty. That was after I’d told him at half-time not to make silly tackles and dive in.

“But you expect that with the young ones still learning the game.

“I know Willo made a good impression in a couple of League Cup games last season. We had someone watching at Bradford and they came back with decent reports on him.

“But for whatever reason, it’s not happened for him. I don’t know if it’s been the injuries but it hasn’t worked out.”

McCall still believes Williams can benefit City from playing regularly in Scotland, either coming back with a new determination – or getting his name out there for a potential move.

He said: “If Willo does really well, he is in the shop window. We have scouts who come to our games all the time.

“If he plays to the highest level he can then people will want to buy him. But it’s down to himself. He’s definitely got potential. Everything’s there that a centre half needs.

“Concentration levels need to be better but he has the strength, the speed and ability. It’s down to how much he wants it.”