Freddy Jeffreys recovers from hamstring injury at Bantams

The 18-year-old needed surgery on a torn hamstring that limited his stay with Elgin City to just six appearances.

Midfielder Jeffreys scored his first senior goal in March at Stranraer but was forced off with the injury a week later against Forfar.

Jeffreys went under the knife to repair the tear and has been recovering back with the Bantams, who will continue to support him during his rehab.

But while they are happy to cover him with a contract over the recovery period, it looks likely that the teenager’s long-term future probably lies elsewhere.

Having made his debut earlier in the season, he has not been involved since Graham Alexander came in.

Jeffreys has been in the City system since he was first spotted playing for Colton Juniors as a seven-year-old.

Fulham and Southampton were rumoured to be monitoring his progress in 2022 and Brentford were thought to be keen the following season but cooled their interest after an injury.

Jefferies was rewarded with a one-year pro contract last summer along with Noah Wadsworth and Sam Bentley, who have both now been released. Gabe Wadsworth, Noah’s younger brother, was offered a deal at the same time for the upcoming season.

Jeffreys was handed his debut by Kevin McDonald in October when he came on in City’s EFL Trophy win at Grimsby during the Scot’s time in temporary charge.

He then started in the next group game against Manchester City under-21s and played 64 minutes at Valley Parade.

But he was unable to break into the squad under Alexander and was sent out on loan to Scottish League second division side Elgin in a deal that just beat the deadline at the end of the January window.

It was a 400-mile move from West Yorkshire but Jeffreys was enjoying his spell with the Moray side until the injury.

“It was a big moment for me,” he said in an interview with the Northern Scot.

“Going away from home is not a bad thing. I’ll learn a lot while I’m here and I think it was the right decision.

Freddy Jeffreys, second right, signed a one-year deal in 2023 (Image: Bradford City)

“I spent a few weeks trying to integrate myself into the team. I finally got there, took my opportunity and then this (injury) has happened.”

Jeffreys was playing on the right wing for Elgin, a role he had never done before, when he got injured. He felt the competitive nature of league football was another learning curve.

“It’s different to what I’m used to. I’m used to academy football where you’re passing it round the back, playing nice football and trying to work nice goals.

“Here you’ve got to win the game. You’ve got to do certain things I wouldn’t always do.

“In an academy situation, they’d forgive you for making certain mistakes, whereas here you make decisions that help the team win. That’s the most important thing.”