CLAYTON Donaldson was closer to the press box than the action at Forest Green.

Squashed right in front of the Telegraph & Argus, the City striker’s biggest challenge was negotiating the tight row of seats and the lack of leg room to make his way down for a warm-up jog along the touchline.

He was similarly under-employed in the weekend’s first league win of the season against Stevenage.

It was the same for Harry Pritchard while Zeli Ismail, having been taken off just after the hour point at The New Lawn, was also left kicking his heels in the stand at Valley Parade.

Their joy at seeing their team-mates collect an opening three-point haul of this strange campaign no doubt tempered by the fact that they did not any part.

As with any footballers, there is no worse feeling than not being involved.

Stuart McCall knows from long experience the juggling act of keeping those on the fringes just as happy as the ones who have crossed the white line.

He is also acutely aware of the part they play, particularly the more experienced heads, within the group mentality.

McCall said: “I always go back to the first season of my second spell. We were only as good as the lads that were on the bench.

“We changed little bits but you look at the professionalism of the likes of Rory (McArdle) and Darbs (Stephen Darby) who weren’t starting at the time early on.

“Filipe Morais was another and Nathan Clarke, Jordy Hiwula was in and out at times as well as Timothee Dieng.

“They were all senior players and no doubt desperate to play but they were always right behind those who were in the side.

“You didn’t hear anyone complaining. Everything was positive and we had good healthy competition.

“Rory then gets in the team and Darbs, you get injuries and the opportunities are there to stay in. It will always be a squad game.”

Donaldson featured at Doncaster in the EFL Trophy and then started the 5-0 thrashing from Lincoln in the Carabao Cup at Valley Parade. He had come off the bench in the first-round win over Bolton.

But the veteran striker’s only taste of league action up to now was coming on for the final 20 minutes of the goalless opener at home to Colchester.

Pritchard came on to nod the winner at the University of Bolton Stadium. But like Donaldson, his only starts have been in the two subsequent cup ties - missing a penalty in the shoot-out loss to Doncaster - with just one sub cameo in the League Two curtain-raiser.

McCall added: “I know Pritch, Clayton, Zeli and (Dylan) Mottley-Henry will obviously be disappointed. But we’ve got lots of games coming up.

“They know with me, Kenny (Black) and the staff that every day in training you put yourself forward.

“It’s a competitive squad and I’ve no doubt training this week will be lively, even more so after a win, because everyone wants to be involved come Saturday.

“When you’re on the bench, there is always the opportunity to get on. I know at the moment there are a few of the lads who haven’t but we have got loads of matches to play.

“It will always be horses for courses, both in the formation and with personnel, so we’ll certainly need everyone in the squad.”

A fixture list condensed by starting a month later than usual will also necessitate the use of all hands to the pump.

Next Tuesday’s home date with Wolves under-21s in the EFL Trophy is the first of eight midweek dates in the following 11 weeks – a run including long-range trips to Leyton Orient and Crawley.

Even with a free weekend after the scheduled trip to Grimsby was called off, it is a daunting schedule facing the Bantams and natural wear and tear and fatigue are likely to be just as big factors in team selections as form and injuries.

“We’ll need everyone because it’s going to get so busy,” admitted McCall.

“The physios and Ben (Rome), our fitness and conditioning coach, have done very well with the lads.

“Touch wood, we have had very few injuries up to now; there’s been a little bit of illness but that’s to be expected.

“They are all training well and are behind each other. Everyone wants to play but the harder the lads not involved at the moment are pushing from behind, the onus is on the ones who are starting to produce.

“It’s every day in training, not just in games. We see them day in, day out and know how they are doing.

“They know they need to keep standards up at all times because that’s what we expect from them.”