FORMER England international Joe Cole will not be among the array of Coventry talent at Valley Parade tonight.

Cole scored his first-ever Premier League goal against Paul Jewell's Bantams in that famous 5-4 West Ham win in 2000.

But there will be no reunion for the 34-year-old, who last week extended his loan from Aston Villa until January.

Sky Blues boss Tony Mowbray confirmed that the midfield star, who has made three appearances, is not in their squad.

He said: "Joe won't be with us at Bradford. We are looking to get his fitness going and looking at Sheffield United (next month) for him to be right in contention and hopefully moving forward."

But City will still have their hands full against a table-topping team full of goal threats.

Newcastle youngster Adam Armstrong is enjoying a sensational season with 12 goals from 15 League One outings. But he was put in the shade at the weekend by borrowed Norwich winger Jacob Murphy, who scored a hat-trick as Coventry demolished Gillingham.

Murphy scored all three of his goals in the first half during a sizzling ten-minute burst – the fastest treble in the club's history in more than 70 years.

Mowbray said: "We can always potentially do that to teams. Jacob has picked up the baton in that central role and it's pretty spectacular for the boy to score five goals in two games."

Coventry's loan contingent has been boosted by the return of two former players – Cardiff centre half Ben Turner, who headed the other goal against the Gills, and midfielder Gael Bigirimana from Newcastle.

Bigirimana described the first period on Saturday as "one of the best halves of football I've ever seen in my career".

Despite their dominant run, Mowbray is braced for a battle between the division's two form teams and said: "It's a tough game for us. We are there to be shot at now we are top.

"Bradford do carry a goal threat and are very dangerous on set-plays. They've got Tony McMahon, who we tried to bring here at one stage."