Bradford Park Avenue Bradford boss John Deacey has players returning to the squad so is in no rush to bring Rob O’Brien back into the fold from his loan spell.

The midfielder and former club captain has gone to Farsley and has started the last two games for the Evo-Stik Division One outfit.

With Avenue down on numbers last week, particularly in centre midfield, and having to name assistant manager Mark Hume on the bench for last Saturday’s home game against Corby Town, the supporters were beginning to ask questions.

Deacey escaped any direct criticism because the club won that and the previous game at home to Vauxhall Motors, scoring four goals and conceding just once over the two fixtures. However, there was some grumbling from the Bradford fans.

The boss feels justified in a making a decision he sees as being of a longer-term benefit.

He said: “Rob needs football. I think it will take him another four or five games to get up to full match fitness.

“We have to look at this objectively to see that it is benefiting both parties, and we have to make sure he gets out of it what he needs. It wouldn’t be fair bringing him back just to sit on the bench, and I won’t do that.

“Farsley have been good with us about it, as they have been with some of our other players earlier in the season. I think it’s only fair that they (Farsley) are fully involved in discussions about when its time for Rob to come back.

“He is getting time on the pitch in tough games in a very good league, and Rob needs those games to be able to come back here and compete at this level.”

The Avenue squad was robbed of Ross Daly and Jordan Deacey last Saturday but they missed just  one game.

Deacey was unwell due to a virus while Daly was at a wedding, and both trained during the week leading up to tomorrow's trip to Droylsden in the Conference North.

Deacey was full of praise for the Bradford public after witnessing the support that neighbours City had at Wembley.

The Avenue boss had hoped to be at the League Cup final to get behind counterpart Phil Parkinson and his squad but his plans fell through.

“It was a pity that City didn’t turn up and that it was such a one-sided game but you can see why that happened."

Deacey added: "But what about their fans? I thought they were magnificent, absolutely amazing.”

“I was supposed to be going down to the game with Jordan (his son and Avenue midfielder) but he was ill, he missed our game on Saturday because he was so poorly, so we made sure the two tickets went to some City fans who thought they were going to miss out.

“The Bantams fans did the city, and their team, proud. They were a credit to everybody.”