Wigan striker Neil Roberts will sign for City in time to face Bristol City.

Roberts, who has played three times for Wales, was today finalising a month's loan after the Bantams were given special clearance by the Football League.

Although they are up to the limit of 18 players in administration, City were unable to field a senior squad of 16 tomorrow because of suspensions and injury.

With Dean Windass and Lee Crooks suspended and Donovan Ricketts joining Peter Atherton and Danny Forrest on the sidelines, City successfully pleaded their case. Roberts, 26, joined Wigan from his native Wrexham for £450,000 in February 2000. He has made 125 league appearances but almost half of those have been from the bench.

He has been restricted to only one Carling Cup outing this season but scored for the reserves at Hull on Wednesday, heading home a cross from former Bantam Gareth Whalley.

Colin Todd said: "Neil leads the line well and he is a runner with bags of energy. He puts pressure on people in the box and is always available. He's a similar player to Dele Adebola but possibly has more physical presence and holds the ball up so well.

"He's not had much of a chance at Wigan behind Nathan Ellington and Jason Roberts but this is a good opportunity with us."

Roberts will partner Adebola as City look to bounce back from successive losses against Port Vale and Wrexham which have seen them slip to 17th.

Todd warned: "We have to make sure we don't make it three on the bounce or suddenly you are looking at the situation down the bottom end of the table."