STEVE Davies admits it has been hard watching City's "indifferent" season so far.

The fit-again striker has been a spectator far more than he would have liked after three months on the sidelines with an injured knee.

With three substitute outings under his belt, Davies is now back in the first-team fold and keen to play his part.

And while City may have hit a bit of a rut, his experience with Sheffield United last season tells him that they still have what it takes to be play-off contenders.

Davies said: "We are team-mates and we all build up good relationships with each other. When you see people struggling, it is always tough to watch.

"For myself, it was tough not to be involved. You get paid to play games and everything you do is for the game on a Saturday.

"It is the release at the end of the week – but every player has been through it. This time, it was my turn, but I will make sure I come back better."

Davies, who is being watched by League Two promotion chasers Portsmouth, was a play-off loser on loan with the Blades last May.

They were knocked out by Swindon in the semi-finals after a wild 5-5 draw at the County Ground – the last time he scored.

Davies said: "This is a division that is always tight. I was in it last year for the second half of the season and realised how tough it is.

"Then I came here in the summer and nothing had changed. Everyone can beat everyone.

"The teams who have that extra bit of quality and strength in depth will be the six that get those places. From what I have seen, there is no reason why we can't be one of them.

"I look at the squad I was amongst last year and I look at this one, there isn't that much difference.

"Even Sheffield United have struggled this year. They have started to turn a corner but we will be pretty similar.

"We have had an indifferent first half of the season. We haven't hit top form yet. We had bad injuries to key players but we are still there or thereabouts with games in hand.

"The next couple of weeks will be key. Myself personally, I see a couple of those sides above us dropping away.

"The games come thick and fast and you need a big squad. We have that and hopefully we can be one of the six."

With 20 games left, the Bantams remain five points off sixth-placed Millwall following the home loss to Barnsley in midweek.

Davies has not started a game since October 20 against Bury and is likely to be on the bench for Fleetwood's visit to Valley Parade this afternoon.

Like team-mate Josh Morris, he is keen to make up for lost time and admits the City fans are still to see the best of him.

"It was a long time to be out but you have to put the hard work in during the early stages to make sure you get the benefit later on," said Davies.

"I have been back training for nearly two weeks, been involved in three games and feeling good.

"It was frustrating because I finally thought I was getting there in terms of form. No matter what your position, you need a run of games to really contribute to the team.

"It took me a while to break into the team, for one reason or another. But once I was in, just as I felt like my old self I got the injury.

"In the games I started before getting injured, I think people had begun to see what I can do – and what I can be.

"There is so much to play for and so much football to play. I have had injuries in the past worse than this one and been out longer. But I have come back.

"I knew I would be back in time to play 15-20 games at the end of the season. That was always the aim. This is the time when you need the squad and need to pick up points.

"You look at the squad we have got and there is no reason why we can't get the points that we need."