REJUVENATED Matty Blythe has told Bulls boss Jimmy Lowes: "I'm fully fit and raring to go!"
Blythe marked the end of his injury nightmare with a man-of-the-match performance for Oxford in their home win over Hemel Stags last weekend.
The versatile 26-year-old has now set his sights on re-establishing himself in the Bulls team and had hoped to get the nod to play against Sheffield Eagles on Sunday.
However, he looks certain to again turn out for Oxford on dual-registration at Newcastle Thunder in League One. Yet the former Warrington man declared: "I pulled through last week with no problems and I'm available for selection now.
"I've worked my hardest to get back from this injury and I'm really proud of the way that has gone. If I can give Jimmy a headache through the week in training and at the weekend, then I'm doing my job right.
"If I'm not in the team this week then I'll push for the week after and keep going until I am in the team. I've got to earn the right to get back in the Bradford line-up."
Chev Walker and Jean-Philippe Baile picked up knocks against Doncaster last week and Adrian Purtell missed out altogether.
Blythe can play in various positions and said: "I've played centre quite a lot at Bradford but I've also played wing, second row and loose forward under Jimmy. It's nice to be versatile and to do a good job in various positions.
"I've always loved the way Jimmy coaches and I said that when I worked with him at Warrington. I was a young lad at the time but he showed that if you're enthusiastic and training well, then he will play you.
"That's the way I've gone about my career anyway – train as hard as I can and do my job as best I can. If you're playing well under Jimmy then you'll stay in the team, which is how it should be."
Blythe was struck down by an infection which left him hospitalised following a procedure he hoped would solve a back problem.
He was set for an operation which would have sidelined him until July but was cleared to play earlier this month and enjoyed his outing for Oxford alongside Dave Petersen, Nathan Conroy and Adam Brook.
"I've been training for a couple of weeks now and I feel I've got my strength and fitness pretty much to where it used to be," said Blythe.
"It was just a matter of getting some game-time and doing the things I wanted to do in terms of being enthusiastic. I played second row and then went to loose forward, so it was just nice to be in the middle and doing plenty of work.
"I really enjoyed playing for Oxford and it's a good set-up down there. A lot of union players who want to transfer to league are on board there and the club looked after us Bradford lads really well last weekend.
"They set us up with a hotel, the training facilities are really good and the lads themselves were great as well. They worked hard for that win and it was nice to be a part of it.
"I've not really played with Dave, Conroy or Brooky before but it was up to us to bring our knowledge and expertise into the Oxford side and I thought we did that pretty well.
"We all need a bit of game-time and I had it in my mind beforehand that I wanted to do 80 minutes, so I was made up to do that.
"I put in a big shift and obviously got rid of a bit of frustration from the past six months where I've not been playing. I'm looking forward to hopefully playing a big role for Bradford now.
"We're all looking forward to what we can do in the Super Eights at the end of the year. I definitely think we can cause a few upsets to Super League teams and we're only going to get stronger as a team and as a squad."
Conroy, meanwhile, is set for a spell on the sidelines after suffering a wrist injury when playing for Oxford last weekend.
Steve Crossley looks certain to be absent on Sunday with the hamstring injury he picked up at Doncaster.
Walker and Baile are also set to miss out with knee and quad injuries sustained at the Keepmoat Stadium but Purtell and Danny Williams are poised to return.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel