Nahki Wells is not in the right frame of mind to play for City, Phil Parkinson today admitted.

The striker is still feeling a hamstring problem – one of several walking wounded likely to miss tomorrow’s home clash with Bristol City.

But Parkinson suggested that Wells has also been affected by the constant speculation regarding his future – and he believes the Bermudian feels now is the right time to leave Valley Parade.

Huddersfield became firm favourites to sign him after their odds were slashed last night but Leeds, Middlesbrough, Burnley and an unnamed Premier League club are among others keeping tabs on City’s leading scorer.

Parkinson feels the on-going transfer talk has affected the way Wells has played in recent games.

He said: “Generally everybody is expecting Nahki to go. If that’s going to happen then the sooner it does, the better for us because we can move forward.

“We’re not encouraging it but in Nahki’s mind, this is a window when he does want to go and it looks like that will probably happen.

“With the greatest respect, and he’d be the first to admit, his performances of late have been indifferent. He has found it difficult to cope with the speculation.

“Prior to that, he was great. But the speculation has been building, agents tell you everything which naturally you want to know, and as a young player I think he’s found it difficult.

“It’s a combination of things. His injury against Shrewsbury has dragged on and – apart from the Coventry game – he probably hasn’t hit the heights since then. But it’s been on his mind about this move.”

The departure of Wells would allow City to make transfer-window additions. As it stands, they need someone to leave before they can bring in reinforcements because the club are right up to the 60 per cent cap with the wage bill.

The Wells issue continues to dominate Valley Parade as the Bantams look to repair a slump of only one win in 15 games.

Parkinson added: “Nahki has conducted himself very well. He’s not been one to bang on the door or stamp his feet.

“I just think he would tell you himself over the last couple of months his performances haven’t been anywhere near what they were. I think there’s a reason for that.

“If he’s going to go, we need it to happen soon. If he gets the move he wants, then great for him and we’ll shake his hand and move on.”

James Meredith saw a specialist last night with the broken metatarsal bone in his right foot. His is the most injury in a lengthy list which has decimated Parkinson’s options.

Matthew Taylor returned to training yesterday but is likely to be the only casualty fit for duty.

Parkinson said: “It’s tough but that’s part and parcel of football and we’ll deal with it. The good aspect is that they aren’t serious injuries apart from Mezza and Andrew Davies is on his way back.”

Bristol City have picked up since Steve Cotterill’s arrival in charge a month ago, winning their last two league games. They have also recruited former £1.2m striker Tyrone Barnett on loan from Peterborough until the end of the season.

“They are a massive club at this level with huge resources,” said Parkinson. “They have got an enormously wealthy owner who has thrown a lot of money at it – enough to compete at Championship standards.

“They have changed the system of late and will bring a team that’s going to be hard to break down. But we’ll be ready for that.

“(Nahki) has taken up a lot of our time this week. But we came in yesterday and decided not to speak about anything else other than what we’re going to do at the weekend.

“We spent time discussing Bristol City. We don’t speak about Nahki because that will take care of itself. “We want to concentrate on the players who are here, want to be here and are ready for action tomorrow.”