Raffaele De Vita will inject “versatility and quality” into City’s ranks when he finally puts pen to paper on a permanent deal.

The Italian, who has been training with the club for over a fortnight, is expected to sign today on a one-year contract with options. The move had been held up by a slight thigh problem which has forced him to miss the last three friendlies.

De Vita could return in tomorrow’s hastily-arranged visit to Harrogate Town – where the former Swindon winger should be unveiled officially as a City player for the first time.

Phil Parkinson said: “He’s done the same volume of work as the lads and a tight thigh is nothing major. We just needed to clear that up before we can sit down with him.

“I feel Raffa will add something to the group. He can play right or left-hand side and he’s got good discipline in his game.

“He’s a very honest player who understands the game tactically and has got quality in both feet.

“Every time we sign someone, whether it’s Gary Jones at the end of his career or whoever, they’ve got to be here for the right reason. We want to continue to do that in our recruitment.

“He’s a good lad and he’s hungry to succeed. It’s also important you have that versatility in the squad. When you have smaller numbers, you need two or three players who can cover a number of positions.”

Parkinson confirmed that City’s search for a second goalkeeper remains “ongoing”. Gary Woods and Brian Jensen are still under consideration for the role alongside Jon McLaughlin, who played in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Doncaster.

The Championship new boys pinched victory with a deflected late winner but the City chief took plenty of optimism from the last serious warm-up before his side’s League One baptism at Bristol City on Saturday.

Parkinson said: “We got a lot of value out of the game. Doncaster put out more or less the team that went up last season, barring a couple of changes, and I thought we played well.

“We had a lot of chances to win and there’s always an element of disappointment that we didn’t. The performance, particularly in the second half when we dominated for long periods, deserved that.

“One or two looked a little bit leggy at the start, which we expected after playing 90 minutes against Grimsby. But as the game wore on, with the substitutions I thought we got stronger.”

Nahki Wells caught the eye with a sharp performance up front and Mark Yeates enjoyed an impressive first outing on home soil.

“I thought Nahki looked a constant threat up against a defence that was very good last year,” said Parkinson.

“Yeatesy showed what he was all about with his football intelligence and his ability to produce a final ball.”

Parkinson will start those who came off the bench for the Harrogate run-out. It could also mark the return of Luke Oliver for his first action since snapping an Achilles tendon against Burton nine months ago.

The City boss said: “Luke’s had two weeks of good training and was working hard again on Saturday morning.

“He’s still getting a few aches and pains, which you probably expect. But my hope is if the fans go to Harrogate they might see the return of the big man.”

* The Friends of Bradford City fans forum has been put back 24 hours to Wednesday night in the McCall Suite. Admission for the event, which will feature Parkinson and director of operations David Baldwin, is £2 or free for Friends members.