CITY are not forgetting Jamie Devitt as they wait for him to re-join their promotion bid.

The Blackpool winger has been out since tearing a hamstring tendon in the Leasing.com Trophy tie at Bolton in September.

It was just Devitt’s third appearance of his season-long loan return to Valley Parade and the injury required surgery.

Since then, it has been a frustrating wait for the 29-year-old who is slowly recovering back with his parent club.

But City are still keeping tabs on him and Gary Bowyer expects Devitt back in the frame once fully fit.

He said: “I obviously know the medical team well at Blackpool so I’ve been in dialogue with them.

“Jamie is their player and they dictate how the rehab goes but ’ve also kept in touch with him all along.

“They’ve been great with just updating us on each step of his progression.

“When he gets closer to getting ready to join back in, he’ll then come back over here.

“That’s how we see it and Blackpool have not told us otherwise.”

Devitt has watched a couple of Bantams games during his lengthy absence and was at Bolton’s training ground on Tuesday to see their behind-closed-doors friendly.

Bowyer added: “He knows quite a few of the boys and he also turned up at Morecambe away. He’s been over for the Carlisle game as well and was at Bolton this week.

“He’s been in regular contact with the lads and myself and can’t wait to come back and get going again.”

Bowyer is happy with the way his squad continue to rally round to support the long-term casualties such as Devitt and Joe Riley, who suffered a serious knee injury in pre-season.

“It’s the worst bit of the job being injured, especially when it involves an operation and it’s long term,” added the City boss.

“Until you’ve been through it and experienced that length of time out, you don’t really understand. It’s a very, very lonely place.

“I think our staff, myself and our players have been really good with everybody who have been out for a length of time. It’s really important.

“The lads have been brilliant with Joe and they’ve been the same with Devs, Matty Palmer and no doubt with Clayton (Donaldson). They are a really good group for that.”

Devitt was predicted to be out of action for up to four months and Bowyer is still looking well into the new year for his possible return.

He said: “It’s difficult to put a timeframe on it because he’s got to get over several barriers.

“I think initially they were looking at the end of January.

“If it’s before then, brilliant, but you’ve really got to be careful with the type of injury that it was.

“Just like we have been with Reevesy (Jake Reeves). It’s important that we do follow those steps.”