DAVID Hopkin is preaching caution over Josh Wright’s chances of facing Sunderland this weekend.

The skipper hopes to resume full training today after missing the last five games with a hamstring injury.

With Jim O’Brien now set for a spell on the sidelines, Wright would be a natural choice to replace him in centre midfield.

But Hopkin has made it clear that he will not make a rash decision on the captain’s fitness.

He said: “Josh started running on Monday and Tuesday. He was back in for treatment yesterday and we’ll see how he is.

“We’ve got to be careful because we cannot afford to stick somebody in for a massive game like Sunderland at home if he’s not right.

“We’ll have to see how he reacts because he hasn’t done much training.

“Of course, it’s tempting to make the change but these are the things I need to assess.

“At this moment in time, I’ve probably got 18 or 19 players and they’ve been fantastic. They’ve been working really hard and I’ll see who’s available.

“We might come up with somebody else to play.”

O’Brien had to come off half an hour into Tuesday’s 1-0 win at Wimbledon. Hopkin changed things round to push Anthony O’Connor into a defensive midfield role – and he responded with a man-of-the-match display.

The City head coach may decide to stick with that plan against the Black Cats.

He added: “We need to try and patch up a team for Saturday for a big game against Sunderland.

“We’re playing probably the biggest club in League One and it’s going to be fantastic.

“I hope the Bradford fans come out and support us. I think they’re starting to see now we’re beginning to get there with players and hopefully we can get everybody back fit before too long.

“It’s a great occasion for the players. There’s no pressure on us to go and win because I don’t think anyone expects us to get anything from the game.

“But hopefully Tuesday’s result will maybe kick the players on and give them a wee bit more impetus.”

Jack Payne’s penalty at Kingsmeadow maintained his record of scoring the only goal in all three of City’s league wins. He is pushing for a start after coming off the bench in the last two games.

Hopkin said: “Jack’s been different class but I just thought it wasn’t a game for him to start in.

“But I told him that he was going to play a massive part – and he did.

“I knew the win would come. It had got to come because performances were there – and if you’re performing, then you get the results.

“If we were playing poorly and not creating and losing games, then I’d be worried.

“But I’ve got a fantastic group of young players mixed with a couple of experienced ones and they’ve got to be delighted."

Eoin Doyle missed Tuesday as a precaution with a back issue but is expected to return.