NATHANIEL Knight-Percival has trained in a head guard to give himself the best chance of a swift return to City action this weekend.

The consistent centre half was forced to miss the Scunthorpe defeat after suffering a deep gash in the middle of his forehead which needed seven stitches.

But Knight-Percival was able to join in training with the rest of the City squad yesterday wearing protective headgear to prevent the wound opening up.

Stuart McCall will check his progress through the week but is optimistic of having the defender back in his plans for the Valley Parade clash with Walsall.

The Bantams boss said: "It's early days but Nat did some fitness work on Monday and then was able to train with us. Obviously there was no head contact and he had the guard just in case the ball bounced up a bit and caught him."

It was only the third league game that Knight-Percival has sat out this season, having missed two earlier this year with an ankle injury.

He got a whack at the end of training on Friday when Billy Clarke accidentally booted him in the face.

McCall admitted: "It always seems to happen that you get injuries like that in the last minute of training. We were literally in the last 30 seconds.

"They were playing on the same side and both went to clear a ball. Nat stooped to head it and caught it flush.

"There was a bit of blood and I just thought Billy had kicked him on the nose. But it was pretty nasty and with where it was, there was no way he could head a ball.

"He had to have delicate stitches so it wouldn't scar but that meant there was a good chance it would open up again with any contact."

Kevin Toner was promoted for his City debut in Knight-Percival's absence, nearly two months after signing from Aston Villa until the end of the season.

The young Irishman is likely to remain on standby to face former loan club Walsall if the injury does not heal sufficiently.

McCall said: "It was a blow to lose Nat at the weekend because he has done well. But we'll monitor him closely between now and Saturday to see what happens. We're hopeful that he should be available again."

Meanwhile, Scunthorpe are studying CCTV footage to track down the culprit who shouted an insult at City fans during the minute's silence on Sunday. Chief executive James Rodwell described it as a "crass act of stupidity".