JOSH Morris has been praised for waking up to the “reality check” of being dropped by City.

The former Blackburn midfielder lost his starting place for Saturday’s goalless draw at Barnsley – one of six changes made by Phil Parkinson as he brandished the axe.

Morris was the first of 12 arrivals for the new season and scored a spectacular debut goal at Swindon on the opening day.

But his form has faded like the team and he has struggled to make an impact in recent games.

That saw him dropped to the bench at Oakwell as Parkinson got tough with his troops, making it clear that those players he left out could have no complaints.

Morris was thrown on as a second-half substitute for Paul Anderson and responded with a lively cameo performance on the wing in City’s late push for a winner – which delighted his boss.

Parkinson said: “If you’d told me two weeks ago after the Swindon game that I’d be leaving Josh out, you probably wouldn’t have believed it.

“He played well but it’s a reality check for him that he has to impact the game more. He has to do more without the ball as well as with it.

“But when he came on, he had the bit between his teeth. It was the same with Luke James, who had two great chances and big moments in the game.

“But the two lads gave us an impetus at exactly the right time and that’s what you want to see.”

Parkinson is continuing with his hunt for another striker to cover the loss of Billy Clarke. He is likely to go down the loan route to add to last week’s double capture of temporary signings Lee Evans and Reece Burke.

Both fitted in well at the weekend and the Bantams chief was pleased with how West Ham teenager Burke coped with Barnsley’s set-piece threat.

He said: “I thought it was a big game for Reece.

“As much as Barnsley talk about possession, their main strength is Marc Roberts, Alfie Mawson and Lewin Nyatanga on set plays and the long throw. Just look at the goals they scored last week against Millwall.

“I knew Reece was going to get a lot of ammunition thrown in the box from Roberts and it could be tough for him. But he dealt with it really well.

“He’s got that calmness and confidence in his own ability. What’s key with us with Reece is that he’s had those games at first-team level in the Premier League.

“Without that, you don’t really want a player to cut his teeth with you. You want that experience which he has already.”