City have sent TJ Moncur back to Fulham.

Stuart McCall hopes to keep Nicky Law, Steve Jones and Dean Furman at Valley Parade but Moncur will not be staying with them.

The 21-year-old defender made 14 starts in his second loan spell with the Bantams. One more would have activated a clause which meant City had to offer him an 18-month deal.

McCall said: “With TJ out of contract at the end of the season, he was looking for something long-term but we couldn’t commit to that here.

“He has done ever so well in certain games and given us a bit of added pace when we’ve needed it. I remember at Wycombe when he was excellent going forward and there have been other good games.

“But he’s just dipped a little bit recently and, with Paul Arnison coming back and doing well, we made the decision he could go back.

“He’s enjoyed his time here and is happy with the experience he has got. Last season was his first in the first team and he played his part.

“Hopefully he will go on and have a decent career in the game and can look back on his time here as a good building block.”

Moncur’s loan is not officially up until Saturday but he has been suffering with slight tendinitis behind his knee and would not have been in the squad to face Shrewsbury anyway.

Meanwhile, McCall is waiting for confirmation from Sheffield United boss Kevin Blackwell that Law can stay until May.

Rangers have already agreed to let Furman see out the season south of the border and Burnley should allow Jones to remain for at least another month.

McCall believes the former Northern Ireland winger, who is looking sharper with each game, can also fill in as a striker – the role where he scored regularly for Crewe.

City have been linked with a move for Bury’s prolific hitman Andy Bishop.

The former York striker, who has broken the 20-goal barrier in each of the last three seasons, is out of contract at Gigg Lane in the summer and is believed to be stalling on his future.

Despite attracting Championship interest from Norwich and Burnley last summer, Bishop stayed with Bury and has netted 11 goals this term.

McCall revealed: “We asked about him a month ago to see what the situation was with regard to his contract but I’ve not taken it further with any personal inquiry.”