Bradford Park Avenue pair well on road to recovery (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Bradford Park Avenue pair Ross Daly and Amjad Iqbal well on road to recovery

6:00pm Friday 19th October 2012 in Sport By Ian Whiting

Bradford boss John Deacey has been encouraged by the progress of two of his injured stars.

Midfielder Ross Daly has not played this season after undergoing a hip operation in the close season and Amjad Iqbal is on the comeback trail from a second broken leg.

Both have stepped up their training schedules, with Daly hopefully in line for a comeback shortly.

Deacey said: “Ross has been training for a fortnight and I’m very pleased about that.

“I’m glad we have a player of his quality coming back into the squad but I’m also pleased for Ross himself because he is a nice lad.

“He has been very frustrated, sitting it out since we got promotion.

Deacey believes the player can make the grade at the higher level.

He said: “He must be looking forward to finally playing in the Conference North.

“I think he will do well. I’m convinced he can step up another level.

“Ross came to us from Thackley and he was probably one of our most consistent players in our promotion-winning season.

“I know he has it in him to be a just as influential to us this season.

Deacey is equally pleased that Iqbal is well on the road to recovery.

He said: “Mr Iqbal is training very well at the moment as well and that is fantastic news.

“‘Ammers’ would walk into any team in this division when he is fully fit and we all know what a massive difference he makes to us.

“He is an outstanding performer and an inspiration to the others lads on the field and off it because of his attitude. It will be a huge bonus getting him back.”

Daly is nearer a first team appearance than Iqbal, even though the Pakistan international has played one game already this term.

That was in an emergency because Avenue were so badly hit by injuries to defenders.

Deacey feels as though the two are ‘in the middle of their own pre-season’ in terms of their fitness levels and ready to start getting some game time.

He will look to get them involved on the bench and had hoped to bring them in for the West Riding County Cup second-round tie at Guiseley.

However, instead of the tie being in early November it is planned for this Tuesday, unless either club has a replay following tomorrow’s FA Cup ties.