Bradford City winger Lee Sharpe has been given the all-clear after a scan on his injured ankle, although he is set to travel to Lilleshall this week as part of his recovery.

The 28-year-old injured ligaments during a bad fall in a pre-season friendly with Barnsley.

Sharpe was hoping to be back in action some time this month, but, because his recovery had slowed in recent weeks, City sent him for a scan earlier this week.

City's assistant manager Chris Hutchings said: "He has been given the all-clear and it looks like he has just been overworking it a bit too much.

"Lee is desperate to play and has been doing a bit of running, but it looks like it was a bit too early. He started to feel the injury again so we decided it would make most sense to send him to have a scan to check there was no fresh damage.

"That showed that there is a bit of inflammation, and it is a case now of letting it heal naturally.

"To help that process we hope to send him to Lilleshall next week because it will be a change of environment for him and will aid his recovery.

"It will be good for him and then hopefully he will be back in full training in the near future. It has been a frustrating time for Lee "

Sharpe joined City from Leeds for a bargain £200,000 during the summer after spending the final six weeks of last season at Valley Parade.

He had undergone a full pre-season and scored in the 4-1 victory over St Kitts/Nevis on the club's Caribbean tour, only to be injured in the final pre-season game.

Meanwhile, City have taken Portuguese Dodaldido Gomes Mendes on trial this week and he has trained with the first team squad both on Thursday and yesterday.

The Bantams are now hoping to receive international clearance for the 18-year-old, who also goes by the name of Bata, in the hope he can figure in a reserve fixture. Bata plays for FC Vernberg in Austria.

City's next reserve outing is at Newcastle United on Monday (7pm), the game being played at Newcastle RFC.

However, they have to then wait two weeks before returning to action with a home clash against Bolton on Tuesday, September 21, with the first team in action the following evening at Reading in the Worthington Cup second round, second leg.

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