JON Stead can expect a decent ovation when he returns to his former club Bristol City tonight.

The striker, now back with the Bantams for a second loan spell until January 3, was immensely popular with the Ashton Gate faithful throughout his three seasons there.

Stead scored 20 goals in 81 games in a side struggling to beat the drop from the Championship and his whole-hearted approach was appreciated by the fans.

Phil Parkinson can recognise those qualities after bringing him back to Valley Parade from Huddersfield.

The City boss said: "John is a very honest player and very committed in everything he does. He's a good character to have in the team.

"As I was saying last week, the problem we had when (James) Hanson was out was getting someone in who was hardened to play and match ready.

"But Jon's an experienced player and has been involved for Huddersfield. He's got a couple of goals this season and is probably fitter now than he was when he was here before."

Stead came off the bench to replace Hanson against Sheffield United and will be pushing for more involvement against the leaders.

Parkinson said: "I thought Jon showed some good touches when he came on."

City will keep a close eye on Hanson after his first game back from a torn thigh muscle. Parkinson was hugely impressed with the striker's performance but it inevitably took its toll.

"His whole body was very stiff – but you'd expect that when he hadn't really trained for four weeks," said the Bantams boss.

"I thought he played really well on Saturday for his first game back, especially when he was up front on his own for 30 minutes.

"I was always going to bring him off but he did a tremendous job for us."

On-loan Middlesbrough winger Andy Halliday trained for the first time with City yesterday. He had been on the bench on Saturday but Parkinson revealed why he decided against throwing him on.

He said: "Andy was down with Middlesbrough at Reading on Friday to play in the under-21s. They pulled him out of it but he had an horrendous journey and didn't get back until late that night.

"It would have been a big ask to throw him on early in the game and the way it panned out made it difficult to get him out there.

"But he's another versatile addition who can play lots of positions. He can play wide left and right and ended up playing left back at Blackpool for a spell through injury.

"We just needed another option out wide in the squad after Mason Bennett went back to Derby. It was also important we got someone who was used to playing first-team football.

"Andy is 23 and has got that experience, which will be a benefit for us."