Eamon O'Carroll admitted the lead up to deadline day has been like almost every other week this year, with the Bulls head coach spending all season putting out fires due to injuries and suspensions.

Even so, yesterday was a hectic once ahead of the transfer window shutting at one minute to midnight, with loan deals sealed for Leeds' Jack Smith, Wakefield's Romain Franco and Wigan's Harvey Makin, as well as the permanent transfer of Jayden Okunbor.

O'Carroll told the T&A: "We've seemed to be in this situation for large parts of the season, so nothing's really changed there, even if deadline day hanging over your head makes things a bit more urgent.

"It's been a little bit frustrating these last few days, but we've managed to get some bodies in which is good.

"I am pleased with that late business, because we've had to identify where we lacked some depth with injuries and suspensions.

"That doesn't mean that won't happen for the rest of the year, so we needed to make sure we brought in another cover if we have more adversity and lose more players.

"I'm really happy we've been able to bring in two quality outside backs in Jack and Romain to give us some depth."

But with Bradford no longer able to bring in new faces, when that has been a weekly occurrence this season, does that make O'Carroll's life harder?

Fenton Rogers is one of many mid-season loan acquisitions who has been and gone.Fenton Rogers is one of many mid-season loan acquisitions who has been and gone. (Image: Tom Pearson.)

He reflected: "I'm not worried about that going forward, because ideally we don't want to be in that situation.

"We don't want to be a club who's constantly bringing in new faces because we have to, we want it to be because we want to have those players.

"We want to freshen the squad and add quality to it, which we've managed to do throughout the year, but our situation has probably been magnified because of the amount of bodies we've had to bring in and the reasons for that.

"I'm hopeful we've got a decent chunk of our injured players coming back over the next couple of weeks, but the key for us is not losing any lads now, especially through suspensions, because we don't want unnecessary absences."

Michael Lawrence, Chester Butler and Jordan Baldwinson are all set to return to the side soon, with the skipper back training with the group and in line to play at home next weekend against Whitehaven.

As for this weekend, half-back Jarrod Sammut is set to make his second debut for Bradford, when he goes up against his former side Barrow at Craven Park.

His presence will ease the burden on Jordan Lilley, who has been targeted tactically by sides constantly this season having often lined up as the only recognised half back due to two bad hamstring injuries for Lee Gaskell.

But finally having two quality halves on the field in Lilley and Sammut by no means guarantees Bradford victory against a Barrow side who are desperately unlucky to be in the drop zone despite six league wins this season.

O'Carroll said: "It was a tough game when we faced them in June even if the 36-24 scoreline in our favour doesn't really suggest that.

Kieran Gill goes over to score in Bulls' home win over Barrow earlier this year.Kieran Gill goes over to score in Bulls' home win over Barrow earlier this year. (Image: Tom Pearson.)

"But we know their quality and they'll test us, so we'll have to be very good defensively, because if we offer them space and opportunities they'll take them.

"It's one of the reasons why I'm really excited about this weekend, to see if our attitude is right defensively, and to see if we can nullify their strengths in attack.

"I know they're doing it tough at the minute, with some disruption in the spine like us, but they've got real quality in there, and they will trouble you with their kicking game and their offloads."

Smith will make his debut for Bulls against Barrow tomorrow, while Okunbor returns to the side after missing the last two games with Visa issues.

Makin and Franco were not signed in time to play this weekend, but should both play for Bradford when they host Whitehaven at Odsal in eight days' time.