CITY will ease talisman Charlie Wyke through the next fortnight to build him back up for battle.

The striker's presence was sorely missed in Tuesday's surprise 3-0 home loss to Fleetwood.

Stuart McCall kept Wyke on the bench until the last half hour because the target man was suffering from the effects of a gruelling run of recent games.

Alex Jones started instead alongside Omari Patrick but struggled to make an impact playing in a more direct role.

McCall admitted afterwards that the physio staff were against Wyke even being included as a substitute.

So with the schedule easing in the short term, City will use that opportunity to get the striker's energy and conditioning levels up again with fitness coach Chris Short.

McCall said: "Charlie works really hard when he plays the games at an intensity. He is a big player for us and we do miss him.

"What will benefit him now is that there are no midweek games in the next couple of weeks.

"So he won't train with us on the Mondays and Tuesdays. He will do some conditioning work with Shorty and we'll get him up to a fitness level that he feels strong and comfortable with."

Jones had started only one game in the previous six weeks, scoring twice in the Checkatrade Trophy win at Chesterfield, and was snuffed out by the Fleetwood defence.

McCall said: "It's a little bit harsh on Jonesy – but he's not a Charlie Wyke. He would benefit from playing with Charlie.

"Jonesy has been sharp in training and scored some really good goals on Monday. He's been waiting for his chance and had earned it.

"But it was a case of the first goal being huge. They got it and were able to sit in and hit us on the counter."

McCall insists there will be "no doom and gloom" in the build-up to their Yorkshire derby with Doncaster on Saturday and an immediate chance to set the record straight at Valley Parade.

The Bantams boss said: "It's not going to burst the bubble at all confidence-wise. We lost three points but that's it.

"From outside, you saw we lost three goals at home and wonder – but that was the nature of the game.

"I've been involved in sides who have lost 3-0 and deserved it. The pleasing thing is that we still went to the end and were putting balls in and shooting.

"We still showed a good desire and character. We didn't chuck it in.

"We probably played better football-wise than we did at home to Rotherham. But we made errors and got punished. Unfortunately that happens at every level in the game.

"But there will always be bumps along the road. There are 46 games in this league and you will have ups and downs. It's about how you react to them and we'll be looking for a response.

"We've got a good bunch in that dressing room and a good staff. There won't be anything downbeat after that.

"We'll prepare for Saturday against a good Doncaster Rovers side.

"I think they've shown that recently, away from home certainly. They won here, put in a really good performance at Arsenal and won down at Plymouth on Saturday 3-0.

"They are probably a better team away at the minute, so it's another game to look forward to."