Omar Daley has turned his back on a glamorous international friendly in Argentina to focus on City.

The winger is coming to terms with first-team football again after missing nearly a year with his snapped cruciate.

He played the full game at Lincoln on Saturday – the first time he has stayed on the pitch for an entire match since January 31 last year.

Daley believes he is now ready to play a major part in pulling City’s season out of the mire. But he has still knocked back the chance of a quick return with Jamaica.

The Reggae Boyz have been keeping regular tabs on the winger during his long-term recovery. And Jamaican general secretary Horace Reid got in touch to check if he would be available for their forthcoming friendlies.

Jamaica face Canada in Kingston on Sunday before a prestige trip to the Argentine coastal resort of Mar del Plata for a game on February 10.

That will grab the spotlight because it marks the return to the dug-out for Argentina coach Diego Maradona after a two-month ban from FIFA for his post-match rant following their World Cup qualifying win over Uruguay in October.

Daley admits he was flattered to be asked back so soon by his country but, despite the temptation of locking horns with Maradona’s men, he insists it is only right to put club first.

Daley said: “I had a call from the general secretary about my position and how I’d feel about playing internationally again but, to be honest, I said I’m not sure. I need to have a good club run first and then see what happens.

"Everyone has been waiting to see me play again and it’s good that Jamaica have contacted me but I just want to play more games first and it’s important I do that with Bradford.

“Soon we are going to have to play every Saturday and Tuesday so you’re going to need loads of players to come in and pull their weight.

“But I’m looking forward to that. For me it wasn’t the case of a 46-game season but 23 and I will try to give everything in that time to help the team.”

Stuart McCall was surprised – and delighted – that Daley lasted the distance at Sincil Bank. In his previous four outings from the bench, half an hour at Bury was the longest the winger had played.

With City 2-0 down at half-time, McCall shuffled his pack with two substitutions. But he deliberately held one back in case Daley couldn’t last the pace.

McCall admitted: “I couldn’t see Omar finishing the game with it being his first 90 minutes for so long. That’s why I had to be sure we had one sub left. But I was pleased to see him come through like that.

“I thought he was a threat and still looked strong in the second half when he cut inside and had a couple of good efforts saved by Rob Burch.

“His fitness levels were very high and this will do him the world of good. Omar has worked so hard to get back to this level and that’s a barrier overcome from his point of view.”