Nobody makes mark to partner Bradford City striker Andy Cook

The identity of a regular strike partner for Andy Cook remains as unclear as it was before a ball was kicked this season.

Four contenders are looking for that chance as the “other” forward – none have yet delivered a convincing case.

Tyler Smith was hooked after 45 minutes of the EFL Trophy game with Rotherham in midweek after a non-descript audition.

Graham Alexander had paired Smith with Olly Sanderson to give Cook a much-needed breather on the bench before being summoned for the closing stages – still enough time for the top scorer to rattle the Rotherham post.

Vadaine Oliver was also denied by the woodwork after coming on for Smith and putting himself about.

But he, too, had suffered the ignominy of a half-time withdrawal when given the opportunity to partner Cook at Fleetwood recently.

Sanderson got the nod against Colchester but is still looking to regain that early spark from when he kicked off his season-long loan from Fulham.

Calum Kavanagh pulled out in Essex after a problem in the warm-up. He has trained fine this week and will be back in the squad tomorrow.

But Alexander is no nearer declaring a regular side-kick for City’s prolific number nine.

The City boss said: “You can see in the last four games or so that they’ve all started.

“There are a couple who have had more opportunities than others.

“But that’s a decision I have to make off other aspects of the game and the pressing side is an important part of it.

“It’s also being a counter foil for what Andy Cook gives us. We can’t have the exact same type of player.

Nobody comes close to Andy Cook in the scoring stakes (Image: Thomas Gadd)

“We need people who can bring those things into play – press, running in behind – all those aspects that most frontlines will carry.

“It’s down to them. Ultimately, it’s on me picking the team but the players have a responsibility as well to go, ‘you can’t leave me out’.”

Cook continues to head the League Two scoring chart on nine goals and has 11 in all competition.

Sanderson is the closest striker to that on three; Oliver has two and Kavanagh the one against Aldershot in the FA Cup.

Alexander added: “There’s not a manager in the world who takes a player out the team when he’s doing a great job and scoring goals. That’s the challenge for them.

“If they’re waiting for a run of games without any performance-related feedback to the team, that isn’t going to happen.

“We need to be competitive game in, game out so they’re going to have to hit the ground running as quick as possible.

“We’re not saying, ‘who can score as many goals as Andy Cook’, to play next to him.

“It’s who can help the team win. That’s what we’re looking to do from that group of players.”

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