PARK AVENUE boss Mark Bower believes Reece Webb-Foster can gain strength through adversity after his injury setback.

The Haworth-born Bantams striker ruptured a cruciate anterior ligament in training while on loan with the Horsfall club and will be sidelined for six to nine months.

The news took the gloss off last week's crucial win over Gainsborough but Bower had some encouraging words for the 18-year-old.

He said: “Bradford City have an excellent medical team and some of the best players in the world have come back from similar injuries. I’m sure Reece will be back.

“He’s been keen to test and prove himself so I think he’s got a strong character. By asking to go out on loan, he’s shown his desire and he’s got all of the attributes.

“Reece has definitely got a good future in the game and this setback could prove to be the making of him. He certainly won’t be able to see any positives at the moment but if he shows mental strength he’ll be a better player when comes through the other side.

“He’s a realistic lad and has a great, positive attitude and everyone in the dressing room is wishing him well because he’s made so much of a good impression on everyone in his time here.”

Webb-Foster sustained his injury just two days before the Gainsborough game and Bower admitted it had left everyone feeling flat.

The Bantams wanted to have their own medical assessments before making the news public but everyone at Avenue were in no doubt the youngster was in for a long time on the sidelines.

Bower, a former City player himself, said: “Reece has gone back to Bradford City following his knee injury and he will get the best possible treatment, I’m sure of that.

“We all really feel for him because he’s come out on loan to play games for his fitness, development and confidence and then something like this happens.

"It was such an innocuous thing but it’s just one of those that can happen in the game.

“We were doing some work in preparation for last Saturday’s game against Gainsborough because Reece was going to start. He was running side by side with James Knowles when he went down.

“There wasn’t much contact, it wasn’t an impact injury. Reece fell heavily and I think that did the damage. It was obvious that it was a bad one right from the start and it just left everyone really flat.”