ROMAIN Vincelot will make a low-key return to the fray as City kick off their Checkatrade Trophy campaign at Chesterfield tonight.

The Bantams skipper has cleared his three-game ban and Stuart McCall wants to get some minutes into him before the televised home clash with Bristol Rovers next weekend.

It will be three weeks since Vincelot last kicked a ball, when he was sent off against Doncaster in the Carabao Cup.

McCall said: "Romain could do with the run-out and it will be a good game for him to come back into."

City will mix and match to involve the likes of Paul Taylor, Alex Jones and Omari Patrick, as well as some of the development squad.

McCall said: "We've had two good development games in the past couple of weeks. It was a bit more of an experienced side against Wigan but there was a lot of positive feedback last Tuesday at Notts County.

"We'll see who fits the criteria but we'd look to get some of the younger ones involved.

"Every game is about building momentum and some help develop the young ones. But we always look to win, whoever we're playing.

"It's still early and there will be a lot of our lads who will be looking to put in a good performance to stake a claim."

The much-derided trophy may not be high on the priority list and a very small crowd is expected at the Proact Stadium. The Spireites have lost four of their five games so far and currently sit bottom of League Two.

Yet after Saturday's three-goal surrender at Walsall, McCall knows a strong performance is important for confidence within the squad.

"I want to see people showing that desire and commitment to want to be in the starting line-up next Saturday," said the Bantams chief.

"People like Jones, Taylor and Omari need to put in a really strong performance. It's about earning the shirt and then keeping it on merit to stay in the team for the week after."

Total prize money has again increased from £1.95million to £3milion to try to keep the lower-division clubs on side. Much of that extra cash has been funded by the Premier League.

Teams get £20,000 as a participation fee, with £10,000 once more up for grabs for every win and £5,000 a draw.

City were knocked out in the quarter-finals last season by Oxford and banked £80,000 along the way.

The selection rules have also been eased. Teams now have to pick only four of the top-ten outfield players with the most appearances or from the previous starting line-up.

They can also choose any goalkeeper, preventing a repeat of the farcical situation last season when City took off Colin Doyle after just three minutes against Bury.

With Doyle off on World Cup duty for Republic of Ireland, Rouven Sattelmaier will start anyway as well as at the weekend.

Shay McCartan is also absent for the next two games after joining up with Northern Ireland.

City (possible): Sattelmaier, Hendrie, Vincelot, Knight-Percival, Field, Devine, Pybus, Law, Patrick, Jones, Taylor.