Bradford City manager has attacking plans in rest of window

Manchester United youngster Ethan Wheatley is thought to be close to agreeing a loan deal.

Alexander, who has made three signings, hopes there is more business to be done with his squad - and is looking to bolster the frontline following Andy Cook’s move to Grimsby last week.

The Bantams boss said: “There are one or two spots where I think we need to improve as a squad.

“Certainly in the forward line, that's where we're looking to improve as well.

“I think we’ve got really good players. It's not about replacing any players that have left in this window, because I think we already did that six months ago.

“It’s just about getting the right balance. But we also don't want to carry so many in one certain position, where you get disenfranchised players, where they don't feel a part of it, because then it's a negative effect.

“We have to be really intelligent with our recruitment to make sure we get the right player for the right position with the right attitude and the right attributes.

“I think we're working exceptionally hard to try and do that.”

City have already utilised the loan market to bring in Louie Sibley from Oxford and Newcastle duo Harrison Ashby and Joe White. All three looked bright as second-half substitutes in Saturday’s 2-1 home defeat to leaders Cardiff.

Wheatley, who turns 20 tomorrow, would be another short-term recruit after United cut short his loan spell at Northampton.

“I think we might have one or two coming in,” added Alexander. “I don't know the actual timescale of that but obviously, we've only got two weeks.

“I think what we've got now, what we've done in the first two weeks is really encouraging and it's definitely strengthened us.

“But we still need to work to the nth degree to make sure we're the best squad we can be for the 20-odd games that's still to play.”

Lewis Richards became the fifth player to leave Valley Parade in the window after joining Crawley on Friday.

Alexander expects more exits to follow to balance numbers before the February 2 deadline.

Calum Kavanagh and George Lapslie were not in the 18 against Cardiff. Tommy Leigh was on the bench but has played just 19 minutes of league action since November 8.

Alexander added: “I think there will be. I think we're at about 21 or 22 senior players anyway.

“So, there will obviously have to be some sort of change in that if we're going to bring a couple of players in or at least one.”

Jenson Metcalfe’s superb goal was City’s only shot on target in the weekend loss. Alexander, who took off Will Swan at half-time, felt they should have taken more care with chances.

“We didn't hit the target enough, apart from Jenson's finish, which was absolutely sublime.

“We had opportunities but it was a little bit of rushing from a couple of players in those moments.

“I said at half-time that there’s only one team I’d back to come back from 2-0 down and that’s us. When we got that goal back and I looked at the clock, I thought, ‘we’re going to go on and win this.’

“We just couldn't turn that sort of final third territory and possession into chances that we could score from.

“But I'd rather have something technically to improve, as in just calming the players down, rather than tactically, when we're not in a position to score.”