City have signed striker Paul Mullin on loan from Accrington Stanley for the rest of the season, while Barry Conlon has joined Grimsby for the same period.

Mullin could go straight into today’s starting line-up at home to Port Vale as the Bantams look to re-ignite their promotion bid.

“I needed to shake things up,” admitted City boss Stuart McCall.

“Paul leads the line ever so well. He is an old-fashioned target-man and whenever we have played against he has been a handful. He is always the first name mentioned when people talk about Accrington.

“It is not a case of them being happy to let him go. I think it is for financial reasons on their part.”

The 35-year-old – who was the subject of £75,000 and £50,000 bids from Shrewsbury and Rochdale respectively last year – only turned professional in 2004.

He is Stanley’s record appearance holder and has scored 132 goals in 316 league games.

McCall added: “Hopefully Paul can give us a spark between now and the end of the season. We have four wingers in the squad who need an aerial target and he fits the bill perfectly.”

Meanwhile, Conlon - who was left out of the squad against Exeter for indiscipline - has joined the Mariners’ fight for survival on loan and looks to have played his last game for the Bantams.

McCall said he was unlikely to delve further into the loan market and is likely to use Steve Jones as a fourth striker if needed.