City assistant Steve Parkin has confirmed that Kyel Reid WILL be making up part of the Bantams' travelling party for the trip south to Bristol Rovers this weekend.
After initially looking set to miss around six weeks of the season following a hamstring injury picked up in the Boxing Day win over Crewe Alexandra, Reid returned to training this week after only a month on the sidelines to thrust himself back into first team contention early than expected.
The flying winger, who had been in red-hot form before his injury, has come through this week's training unscathed and will now come into Bantams boss Phil Parkinson's thoughts for the Pirates fixture.
Reid will be joined on the team bus down to Bristol by David Syers, who is now free from suspension following a recent three match ban, but it seems that this Saturday's match will come slightly too soon for Luke Oliver.
Parkin has hinted, however, that the giant central defender should be fit to return from his hamstring problem by the time Crawley Town visit the Coral Windows Stadium next weekend.
"It's nice to have David Syers back in the squad, it's nice to have Kyel Reid back in the squad and Will Atkinson as well," said Parkin.
"Kyel Reid will be travelling. He has come through training this week ok. He's been feeling no after-effects following the training that we've had this week.
"It is a big boost for the other players to have him back because they know he's a provider and a danger for us on the pitch.
"We're all delighted to have him back involved.
"It looks like it is a couple of days too early for Luke (Oliver) to be making a comeback.
"But he has made good progress this week and he has been spending some useful time with our physio, Dave Hanson, this week to help him get back towards being in good nick.
"This game (Bristol Rovers) will probably come a day or two too early for him, but it is important that we have him back when he is right.
"We have a decent batch of games coming up in this next month or so of the season and it is important that we have as strong a squad as possible available to us for that period.
"With that in mind, we will probably look to err on the side of caution and make sure he is fit and ready for selection for next week."
After returning to the training ground this week following one month away due to illness, Michael Flynn has been making good progress as he builds his fitness back up.
Flynn will, understandably, stay up north as the rest of the squad travel down to Bristol this weekend, but Parkin is hopeful that it won't be too long before City can call upon the Welshman's services.
"He's under the guidance of the medical staff at the moment, and they're really happy with the way he is coming on," added Parkin.
"He's been joining in with the warm ups recently and he joined in with a bit of the session today (Thursday).
"Typical confident Flynny, he feels he could be back ready for selection as early as next week, but we'll have to see how he copes with a step up in training next week.
"But he looks in good nick at the moment, and it's really good to see him back after his really bad illness."
As well as an update on Flynn's situation, Parkin also had further details on Simon Ramsden's current recovery from a broken toe.
Parkin said:"He's had it re-x-rayed again today (Thursday). The healing process in the toe is still taking place.
"He is making good progress and working hard to get back but it looks like it could be a couple of weeks before we can think about getting him back.
"The injury is getting there, we just have to show a bit of patience."
