JAMES Hanson will present himself ready for City duty against Shrewsbury.

The targetman missed Saturday's win over Chesterfield with a slight knock picked up in training as Stuart McCall handed new signing Alex Jones an immediate starting debut.

McCall did not want to take a chance with Hanson's fitness after seeing Tony McMahon and Billy Clarke suffer setbacks in their injury recoveries by trying to get back too soon.

But he is confident the big striker, who has been plagued with calf-related issues, will be back in the squad as the Bantams look to make it three wins in a row.

McCall said: "We've got to learn our lessons. Tony McMahon has come back too early from a thigh strain because he was desperate to play.

"Billy Clarke has done exactly the same, so we took it out of James' hands. We didn't want to take any risks.

"I said to James 'it's just one game, so rest' and I'm sure he'll be ready for Saturday."

City hope to have at least one new face in their squad before the trip to the New Meadow.

There is an offer in for a young winger and chief scout Greg Abbott continues to focus on recruiting another frontman.

Abbott said: "We still think we have work to do to give Stuart a bit more strength."

But Dundalk teenager Michael O'Connor will not be joining the Bantams. Sources in Ireland have said a deal for the midfield prospect is off because the two clubs were unable to agree on compensation.