JAMIE Devitt is back at City as he steps up his recovery from a torn hamstring tendon.

The on-loan midfielder returned to parent club Blackpool to begin his rehab after the operation in September.

But now he is at Apperley Bridge again with the Bantams – another major injury boost for Gary Bowyer.

The City chief said: “It’s good news that Jamie is back in the building. We’re really pleased with the progress he’s made.

“The challenge now is keeping the reins on him. Obviously, he’d only been with us a couple of weeks when he picked up the nasty injury and he wants to make amends for missing the last three months.

“We’ve just got to be sensible but it’s great to see the progress that he has made already.”

Devitt was making just his third appearance when he suffered the injury at Bolton in the Leasing.com Trophy. He had previously come off the bench against Forest Green and then started at Crewe, claiming an assist in James Vaughan’s goal.

Bowyer added: “He’s back out on the grass and will get assessed by the physios over the next week or so.

“If you were to ask him, he’d tell you that he is ready to join in (with the rest of the squad). But he hasn’t joined in any training sessions this far.”

A month ago, Bowyer was contemplating a casualty list that he considered one of the worst he had dealt with in his management career.

But with Devitt back in the ranks and Clayton Donaldson continuing to up his work following a toe operation, the numbers are swelling encouragingly going into the busiest spell of the season.

Matty Palmer played his first game since September at Leyton Orient and Shay McCartan also made his comeback from the bench.

“It’s what happens throughout the course of a season,” said Bowyer.

“Ideally you don’t want to be making too many changes but injuries are part and parcel of it.

“At this particular time, touch wood, it’s good having that many options for us for the festive period.”

City are looking to make it three clean sheets on the bounce when they face Salford for the first time.

Bowyer said: "I'm delighted for Richard (O'Donnell) because there have been games when he's deserved a clean sheet by his performances or the fact he's not had a shot to save and we've conceded, like with the penalty at Macclesfield."