Bradford City manager Graham Alexander has moved to ease concerns regarding the fitness of on-loan Barnsley defender Jack Shepherd.
Shepherd, who left the field with a “dead leg” during the recent victory over Tranmere Rovers, has been dealing with the injury for several weeks. However, Alexander has expressed confidence that the defender will be fit to feature in their upcoming match against Gillingham on Saturday.
Alexander revealed that Shepherd, who has been a key figure in City’s defence, trained on Wednesday, although he admitted the player has been nursing the injury for some time. “Jack trained, but it’s something he’s been nursing for quite a few weeks. He’s a tough boy and he’s going to have to crack on,” said Alexander, highlighting Shepherd’s resilience.
The main concern, however, for Alexander is a wave of illness that has swept through the squad, affecting several key players, including defender Neill Byrne. The illness disrupted preparations for their last game against Tranmere, with Byrne being one of the notable absentees. Although Byrne has now returned to training, the sickness bug has continued to affect other members of the squad, raising concerns ahead of the Gillingham fixture.
Squad Illness Hits Bradford City Ahead of Gillingham
Speaking about the ongoing issue, Alexander explained: “We’re fluctuating at the moment because this illness has been going through the squad. We lost Byrner last Saturday, and three or four others have since been affected.” The City boss has been managing training sessions carefully to prevent further spread of the illness, but he acknowledges the challenge in keeping his squad fit and ready for matchday.
Byrne’s return to training is a positive development, with Alexander hopeful that he will be fully fit for selection come Saturday. “Byrner was a bit ropey when he trained on Tuesday because he was lacking energy. But he’s had a full training session on Wednesday, and he feels miles better,” said the Bradford manager. This will be a boost for City, who are looking to maintain their recent run of form as they aim for a third consecutive league victory.
Despite these setbacks, Alexander remains optimistic, particularly about his defensive options. Alongside Shepherd’s progress, Byrne’s recovery will be critical to shoring up the backline against a Gillingham side keen to challenge City’s stronghold at Valley Parade.
Focus on Player Recovery and Maintaining Form
Reflecting on the situation, Alexander emphasised the need for the team to manage the illness within the squad while continuing preparations. “We’re hoping the break off tomorrow will help give the lads a bit of space and that we have a fully fit squad on Friday. But we obviously don’t know at the moment,” he admitted, indicating the unpredictable nature of the illness impacting the team.
Alexander’s handling of the situation shows his balanced approach, focusing on player recovery without compromising too much on match preparation. With both Shepherd and Byrne working their way back to full fitness, Bradford City fans will be hopeful their side can continue their upward momentum in League Two.
Our View
Bradford City’s defensive core has faced challenges in recent weeks, but Alexander’s calm leadership, combined with the resilience of players like Shepherd and Byrne, could see them overcome these hurdles. The team will need to navigate both illness and fitness concerns carefully to ensure they remain competitive as the season progresses.
As the game against Gillingham looms, all eyes will be on Alexander’s final selection, particularly in defence, where the fitness of key players like Shepherd and Byrne could play a crucial role in determining the outcome.
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