CITY don’t expect to see Sean Scannell back before February.

The winger has already been out of City’s plans for 10 weeks with a hairline fracture in his back.

And David Hopkin believes it could be another couple of months until he is able to return.

Scannell has made 12 appearances and last started in the home defeat to Sunderland at the beginning of October when he was sent off for shoving over opponent George Honeyman in stoppage time.

Hopkin admitted: “I think it’s going to be another six or seven weeks before Sean is back in training.

“He has to be careful what he does because of the area of the back where it is. He cannot do too much.

“It’s unfortunate for him, the club and me but these are things we can’t control.”

Scannell’s extended absence will heighten the need for a new wide man in the transfer window.

Sherwin Seedorf is back at Wolves being treated for the hamstring injury he suffered against Barnsley in the Checkatrade Trophy and will not return before his half-season loan is up.

“It’s no secret we don’t have any wingers at the club right now,” added Hopkin.

“Sherwin’s gone back to Wolves and Jordan Gibson is injured again. He’s done his hamstring.

“This is where coaching and management comes in. We’ve managed to come up with a style that suits us just now without playing wingers.

“We need to get some players in to strengthen different areas. Once we do then hopefully there will be competition for places.”

Hopkin has adapted a “Christmas tree” 4-3-2-1 formation in recent weeks with defender Kelvin Mellor slotting in on the right side of midfield. The right back previously filled in as a left centre half when Nathaniel Knight-Percival was suspended.

The Bantams boss said: “Kelvin’s versatile and I thought he did fantastically against Walsall. He gives that bit of height and presence, especially when we’re defending.

“He looks as if he’s getting fitter and is enjoying playing there.

“Maybe we need a couple more players in the squad like Kelvin who can save you two or three wages because they can play a couple of different positions.

“That side of the park with Paul Caddis is strong. Kelvin is a right back/centre half playing wide right and the two of them complement each other well.”

City’s move away from bottom spot in League One can make them a more attractive proposition for potential transfer-window recruits.

“A lot of people look at league tables and see where you are and different things,” said Hopkin.

“But I don’t think there will be any wholesale changes.

“One or two players might want to move on from us, go on loan or permanently. Probably 85-90 per cent of players we are going to get will be loans.

“We need to make sure they are players that can help us and strengthen areas of the pitch where I feel we need it to complement the ones we do have.

“You get out the bottom four by the end of the year and it may make it a better proposition.

“To do that we must have won two or three games so it makes it easier for players to want to come when they see maybe you’re on the up.

“Anybody who thinks they are going to get a relegation on their CV, then I wouldn’t want them.

“You speak to the right type of players. They’ve got to believe that when they come we’re going to get away from where we are in the league as quickly as possible.

“If they started questioning that, then I wouldn’t want them at Bradford.”