STUART McCall insists the door is open for City's young guns to force their way into his plans.

Omari Patrick has already made the breakthrough from the club's development squad with three goals this season.

Others are looking to follow the striker's example – and Bantams boss McCall maintains that opportunities will be there if they catch the eye.

He said: "It's good to see the young ones who are pushing the lads in the squad at the minute. It's encouraging watching them.

"The ones who are just above them at the minute through experience are performing well, so they deserve to be in there.

"But there will always be a pathway for the young ones. For me and all the staff, you'll get your chance on merit, not your age.

"Hence we obviously started Omari and he's been in and around the first team."

Patrick scored in a 3-2 defeat at Guiseley on Monday, one of a number of closed-doors games that have been set up to keep the fringe players match-fit around their Central League campaign. Centre half Lachlan Barr was also on target.

Jordan Gibson provided the cross for the Australian's header and McCall feels the former Rangers forward, who joined City in August after impressing on trial, has helped increase competition within Sam Collins' young squad.

"Jordan came in and it lifted the performances of Tyrell Robinson and Ellis Hudson," said McCall.

"For the last couple of months, two of them have been good and one's been outstanding, then another one will be outstanding and the other two good. The standard has risen with all of them.

"All three can play left wing, right wing, in behind the front or up front. It's good and they are challenging each other. I think they are bringing the best out of each other.

"In fairness to Sam, he's arranged some really good games. We've played Man United twice, which was obviously a good test, and Barnsley as well.

"We've had some really tough opposition and they've been good football games. Guiseley was another competitive and physical work-out.

"The likes of young Curtis Peters has come in and done well and Callum Gunner. That raises Dan Pybus and Danny Devine, who are in it.

"Since Luke Hendrie's come in, Jacob Hanson's performances have gone up. It's been good like that."

Timothee Dieng made his longest appearance at Nethermoor after six weeks out with a calf injury. The midfielder played an hour to ensure he would recover in time to train fully today.

Shay McCartan has also returned to training to boost McCall's options. He will be without Tony McMahon but the defender could be involved again by the end of the month after a scan on his hamstring showed only a minor tear.

Meanwhile, Joel Grodowski is back at the club after receiving treatment in Germany for his on-going back issue. The young striker has not been involved at all up to now.