BRADFORD CITY AFC

City defender Rory McArdle is a doubt for Tuesday's trip to Carlisle United after missing Saturday's thrilling 3-3 draw with Crewe Alexandra following a bang to the head in training on Friday.

McArdle was originally scheduled to play in the Crewe fixture but had to miss out after an accidental clash of heads with apprentice midfielder Callum Chippendale as City went through their set-piece drills one last time.

It was initially feared that the centre half may have fractured his cheekbone - an injury which would have meant a lengthy period on the sidelines - but x-rays thankfully showed McArdle just has bruising around his eye.

Parkinson said: "Yesterday (Friday) we were practicing corners and it happened on the last one.

"We had been practicing them from the right hand side and, as you say sometimes as a manager, I just asked for a couple from the left to finish off. It came in and there was a clash of heads with one of the youth team players.

"It split his eye open, and I was fearing the worst when I saw him in the treatment room.

"It was a nasty injury and we felt he could have broken his cheekbone.

"When we went to the hospital they felt the same. Fortunately though, the x-ray proved that he hasn't.

"It is still a nasty gash, however, and his eye was nearly completed closed on Friday due to the swelling.

"He definitely couldn't play today (Saturday) as a result but we are hopeful it won't be too long before he is back."