DEREK Adams vowed City are in it to win it in the Papa John’s Trophy as he plots the double boost of victory tonight and a new striker.

The Bantams remain in talks for Lee Angol’s replacement which they must finalise before the 11pm deadline.

The end of the transfer window also coincides with their opening Trophy group game against Lincoln at Valley Parade.

Fans will be focussed on City’s success in bringing in another forward but Adams insisted the match is no unwanted distraction.

He said: “I see it being a first-team fixture that we’d like to try and win.

“We’re in every competition to do our best. We did that against Nottingham Forest in the League Cup and the FA Cup will be the same.

“This is a first-team competition. It can be beneficial (financially) and we’ll do our best to try and progress.

“We’ve got three games to play in the group stages and then quite quickly you get into the knock-out rounds. We will put out a team we feel can win the match.”

Oscar Threlkeld and Levi Sutton returned to training yesterday and Adams is assessing whether it would be too early to include either of them.

Finn Cousin-Dawson is away with Northern Ireland under-19s for their European qualifiers against Malta and Slovakia.

“I’m delighted for him to get the recognition,” added Adams.

“He played in the summer and now he’s had even more game time this season. He’s gaining experience all the time.

“He’s been popped into the first team this year and done well in the games he’s played.”

Lincoln hammered City 5-0 in the Carabao Cup at Valley Parade last season and went on to reach the League One play-offs. But they have won just once so far.

Adams said: “They are a League One side who were really unfortunate in the end last season. They’ve got a lot of young, talented players in their team.

“They do spend a bit of money and recruit players from other clubs that they can develop.

“But you’re unsure what teams are going to do in this competition because the rules allow you to make as many changes as you probably can nowadays."

The Bantams are looking to bounce back from their first league loss of the season at Leyton Orient.

“It was a game that could have gone either way," said the City boss. "The first half was a non-event and they had by far the better of the opportunities in the second.

“We’ve had one bad half since I’ve come to the football club. We’ll just take it away and say it was one of those days.”

On the transfer front, Adams added: “We’re still negotiating here and there to try and get the best we can in the circumstances.

“It’s difficult because you’re negotiating with different teams and other people are interested in the same players.

“People are trying to do a deal the other way and they are probably waiting to do that before they allow another one to happen.

“We’ve done a lot of work and we’re in a situation where we’re trying to conclude a deal. But until it’s done, we have to continue.”