MARC McNulty admits it will be tough to watch City do battle with Sheffield United in this weekend's Yorkshire derby.

The Scot is predicting a cracker at Valley Parade between the top-four League One rivals – but he won't be part of it.

On-loan McNulty is ruled out from facing his parent club, denying him the chance to build on his first City goal.

McNulty said: "I'm feeling good in myself after scoring on Tuesday and dying for the next game to come along and grab another goal. But unfortunately I'm going to be sitting in the stand kicking every ball.

"Obviously I've got a lot of respect for Sheffield and for what they've done for me. They gave me my first chance in England.

"It's going to be strange. It's the first time I've been in that situation. Last season I was on loan at Portsmouth, so I was never up against Sheffield.

"It's disappointing because you want to play every game but I understand why I can't."

The Blades are only a point behind City after a nine-match unbeaten run, including seven wins, and McNulty is not surprised to see Chris Wilder's side beginning to mount a charge.

He said: "Sheffield United have been doing brilliant. The manager has brought in a couple of lads who have been playing really well and they aren't conceding so many goals. They are starting to score – but that was always going to be the case.

"The new manager changed a lot of the boys early on. Fair play to them, they've got a good group and I'm sure they will do well.

"It's going to be difficult but I'm confident in the boys. I'm sure Sheffield will be saying the same thing about Bradford."

McNulty's midweek strike against Southend was his first since May but he was frustrated to see City pegged back in the second half.

He said: "If we had got the second goal, it would have been a totally different situation. But fair play to Southend for hanging in there and making it difficult for us.

"They are very direct and it's never going to be easy when you come up against teams like that. One minute we were in our stride and the next it was being broken up into scraps.

"It's been a bit frustrating for me not to get my first goal as early as I'd like. You want to come in and score in your first game and any striker who says otherwise is lying.

"Sometimes in football it doesn't work out like that – but I'm feeling positive now I've got that goal.

"I'm sure Saturday will be a good footballing game because Sheffield like to play as well. But I'll just have to sit there and take it in."