Peter Thorne has been ruled out of a City return at Barnet.

The Bantams skipper is recovering from a tweaked hamstring he suffered in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy win over Rochdale.

Thorne is expected to resume training in the next few days but, with Gareth Evans and James Hanson working so well together, Stuart McCall will not take any chances with the veteran frontman.

McCall said: “Thorney will hopefully be back joining in with us at the end of the week. But we won’t be rushing him yet. I think he’ll need a game or two in the reserves first before he’s ready.”

Thorne’s season is yet to get going after he agreed to cut his pay by half to stay on for another year.

Having top-scored for the previous two campaigns, he has not got off the mark and lasted only 17 minutes at Rochdale before limping off.

City have taken ten points out of 12 from the four league games Thorne has not been involved in. The winning run ended with Saturday’s draw against Burton but McCall was pleased with his side’s muted reaction afterwards.

He said: “There were a lot of disappointed faces in the dressing room but that’s a sign of what we are aiming to do.

“Football changes so quickly and you’ve got to capitalise when you are having good runs. We’ve got a side that’s still trying to bed down together but they are giving everything with their energy and commitment.

"The players have got confidence in each other and are pulling everyone along. They may see it as two points dropped but we are still unbeaten.

“I’m not going to be one of those managers that’s always looking at the league tables and see we’re in this or that position. Having said that, we are only one point off seventh and the play-offs is what we’ve got to aspire towards.

“It doesn’t matter where you are at this moment in time. But we’re going along in a steady manner so far which is pleasing.”

* City commercial director Roger Owen has been delighted by the fans’ response to his call to arms.

The former Morrison’s senior executive is looking for supporters to offer their services behind the scenes on a voluntary basis.

And he has been pleased with the reaction to last month’s request in the T&A. Owen said: “We have had a number of people who have come forward, including a former international athlete who offered help on the fitness side with the coaching staff. I hope to have others on board in the next week.”

* City’s reserves face Hartlepool at Valley Parade tonight.