City are getting striker Laurens Ten Heuvel for nothing.

The big Dutchman is with the Bantams for the remainder of the season on loan from Sheffield United.

And the Blades are so keen to give him a few games in their build-up for the play-offs they are paying his wages.

City boss Nicky Law said: "We've got to say a big thank you to Sheffield United for lending him to us. I spoke to Neil Warnock about it and he came up trumps.

"They are paying his wages because they want to see him in action and we need cover. It's a two-way thing."

Ten Heuvel, who has replaced the injured Ashley Ward, will lead City's attack against Millwall tomorrow hoping to make up for the goal that got away.

The 26-year-old clipped the Norwich bar with an early header and powered another one straight into the arms of keeper Robert Green. But it wasn't a bad debut for a player whose only previous start in English football was seven years ago.

Ten Heuvel said: "I was a bit unlucky with the first one because I thought it was dropping in. And if I had put the other header a little bit to his left, as I was trying to do, then it would have gone straight in.

"But it felt great to be playing a full game rather than coming on as a substitute. I thought I would be struggling because the game was very fast but everything was fine - except the result.

"Hopefully I can keep on playing for Bradford and I'm really excited about my first home game."

Ten Heuvel likes to drop off the front and float around just behind his strike partner rather than occupying a traditional centre-forward's role.

Law said: "The Dutch like to do that, Dennis Bergkamp does the same. Laurens reminds me of Gerald Sibon at Sheffield Wednesday, he finds awkward positions and brings other players into play.

"I thought he showed some nice touches last week and he can only get better. What he needs is a run of first-team games and we'll give him that."

There is no suggestion the striker's stay with City will be any longer than the remaining five weeks of the league.

Sheffield United want to bring back Ten Heuvel - the only summer signing they paid money for - as cover for the play-offs. But they do have strikers coming out of their ears and he is probably sixth in the pecking order.

Ten Heuvel said: "I don't have a clue what is going to happen and nobody has mentioned anything. Sheffield United bought me to play for them.

"The gaffer let me go purely to see me in some games. He wants to see if I could manage the First Division and so far I think I have done all right."

Ten Heuvel's nine games off the bench for Sheffield United have included outings against Leeds and Liverpool in the Worthington Cup. But his last start was for Barnsley against Grimsby in 1996.