PHIL Parkinson will keep City's fringe squad on their toes for possible play-off combat with the warning: We may need you all.

James Hanson and Filipe Morais made a dramatic return to action by helping themselves to all four goals in Saturday's demolition of Walsall.

Hanson had not started a game for seven weeks, while Morais was making his first full appearance in over a year.

Parkinson believes the pair's spectacular reintroduction to City's play-off chase has set the tone for the others currently on the edges of the first-team picture.

The Bantams boss said: "It keeps the squad motivated when people see the likes of Fil and Hans come in and play so well.

"There are other players who can equally have the same impact such as Greg Leigh, Ando (Paul Anderson), (Josh) Morris and (Mark) Marshall, just to name a few. We've got a lot of good players waiting in the wings.

"It's so important that lads who have not been in the team have a really good work ethic, as Fil and Hans have shown. Players are going to be called upon when they don't expect it."

City are gearing up for potentially five more games in their pursuit of a return to the Championship.

But Parkinson wants the play-off place secured first – and is aiming for that to be achieved against Southend in their penultimate league outing.

He said: "We're pleased with the weekend's work. Now we've got to get our feet back on the ground and have a good week's training.

"The challenge now is to go to Southend on Saturday and finish the job off."

Morale on the training ground is high after City's biggest home league win since 2013. Parkinson was delighted to see chances being taken as their League One promotion rivals were put to the sword.

"It's got to be right up there in terms of important wins through the season, especially after dropping the points in the previous two games," he said.

"There was a little bit of added pressure, so to come through in such great fashion is a big boost.

"In nearly every game we've created a lot of chances and our stats have been good.

"We had some great moments in the first half but couldn't take them. But I was pleased with the calmness of the lads to keep playing like that and they got their rewards in the second.

"There was a good feeling on the pitch and in the dressing room beforehand. The training ground had been quiet in the build-up but I just felt there was a quiet determination within the group.

"The lads knew it was important to keep playing as well as we have been doing and they did that."

It was also perfectly timed ahead of tonight's player-of-the-year awards at Valley Parade – but Parkinson has reminded his squad that they won't be staying too late with the approaching trip to Essex.

"We'll go to Valley Parade and enjoy the night but get away a bit earlier than we've done in previous years because we want to be properly rested and ready for the weekend," he said.

"It's a long journey going down there. We'll be travelling on the Friday and we want to make sure the preparation is spot on.

"It's Southend's last home game and they will want to bounce back from a heavy defeat at Wigan. They'll want to play for a bit of pride."