Benito Carbone will not be cold-shouldered at Bradford City after a deadline-day transfer to Middlesbrough collapsed.

The Italian's planned switch to the Riverside broke down over the length of contract, with Boro reluctant to take over the three years remaining on his Valley Parade deal. He had already passed a medical.

Carbone must now wait until the summer for a possible move back to Italy - his preferred escape route - although there has been limited interest so far from Serie A clubs.

But City boss Jim Jefferies has made it clear the gifted striker will feature for the rest of the season.

He said: "We gave Middles-brough permission to talk to Beni, but the deal broke down. We're not blaming Beni, we're looking at the positive side - the playing side.

"His mind is right and he has been playing well and we have no problem with him.

"We've not been trying to force him out. He is the one who wants to go back to Italy and we would have brought him back sooner but for his groin strain.

"The only reason he has to go is for financial reasons because we can't keep him in the First Division. But we will keep playing him for the rest of this season."

Jefferies is still hoping to resurrect a deal to take Eoin Jess from Aberdeen.

The on-loan midfielder has been given permission to play at St Johnstone in Allan Preston's testimonial tonight, but is back at Pittodrie after City refused to pay the £70,000 short-term fee the Dons were demanding.

The Bantams may now have to join the summer auction when Jess' contract runs out, where they face stiff competition from Hibernian.

Jess said: "I'm disappointed that nothing has happened, but I can't do anything about it.

"I'm a contracted Aberdeen player and I've just had to go back there and train. The manager there has said I won't play until I apologise for criticising the club, so I'm in limbo.

"My contract runs out at the end of June, but these could be a long few months with no chance of a game.

"I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Bradford back playing in the Premier-ship.

"The results weren't the best, but it was great to be playing regularly and the atmosphere at the matches was fantastic."

Jefferies said: "It's ridiculous to pay for a boy who will be out of contract in a few months, but we've said that if the clubs couldn't agree things we would talk to him at the end of the season."

Injured trio Andy Myers, Robert Molenaar and Aidan Davison did not travel to Scotland for tonight's game. City have still to decide whether to play Carbone or not.

City (probable): Walsh, Locke, Wetherall, Halle, Jacobs, McKinlay, McCall, Whalley, Jess, Ward, Blake.