TWENTY stitches mean player-manager Charlotte Stuart will be watching Bradford City Women from the dugout as they welcome Fylde in the first round of the FA Women's Premier League Cup tomorrow.

Stuart joined fellow centre back Paige Crosby in having to be substituted through injury last weekend during a fierce goalless draw against Nottingham Forest.

The manager suffered a nasty blow to the face while going up for the ball, while Crosby will see a knee specialist in the coming days after being stretchered off.

Yet Stuart remains upbeat about this weekend's game, despite things having gone against her team in the build-up.

The player-boss admitted: "To lose both our centre backs certainly has an impact on the team. But it is a cup game this weekend so it gives us a good opportunity to try new things and bring players in.

"I'm excited to take up my management role from the sideline on Sunday too. It's something that I am not far off from doing full time, so I am really looking forward to it."

After losing their season opener at Leicester two weeks ago, Bradford welcomed Forest last weekend and were unlucky not to take all three points from the scrappy affair.

The Bantams forged more opportunities in the game but Stuart believes that is still something that can be improved to progress to round two of the cup.

She said: "We need to be more creative in the final third and attack in numbers. We have been too defensive in the past couple of weeks, so this is certainly something we are looking to improve on."

Bradford take on Fylde at Eccleshill United FC (2pm), while City's reserves get their season underway at the home of champions Blackburn Rovers.