Bantams midfielder missed last two games with shin injury

The midfielder has sat out the last two games after taking a whack which forced him off against Gillingham.

Oduor has still not been able to train because of the swelling and Graham Alexander admits it will be the player’s call when he feels he can play again through the pain barrier.

Alexander said: “He’s got a bruised shin and it’s just a matter of the pain threshold and when he feels comfortable enough to train and play.

“It will be down to Clarke to declare himself fit. It’s not something that needs treating.

“It’s bruising that needs to go down but there’s a limited amount of treatment you can get for something like that.

“It’s how quickly the body heals. Players never wait for it to heal completely, it’s just whether the pain threshold is manageable and you crack on.

“That’s what players have been doing for years and they’ll have to continue to do because it’s a contact sport.”

Oduor’s control on the ball was missed in Saturday’s defeat to Doncaster – City’s first home loss since March.

“He’s a good player as the other midfielders are and he’s a little bit different to the other guys,” added the Bantams boss.

“We’re missing a lot of good players at the minute. It’s not just one or two.

“But if you look at the last five games or so, I think the players that have been playing have done a great job.

“I know we let ourselves down on Saturday. But over the course of those games, I think we’ve done pretty well.

“Whoever we pick, I believe in them all.”

Meanwhile, City are on the look-out for a new head physio.

Former England RFL physio Matt Abbott only joined in the summer to replace Dayle Avison.

But it is understood that he is moving to a job at another club.

Matt Abbott, left, with head of performance Tom Eastwood in Austria (Image: Thomas Gadd)