Thorne out for a month

Top scorer's injured shoulder needs time to heal

Last updated: 30th December 2008

Thorne out for a month

Thorne: Shoulder needs time to heal

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Bradford's top scorer Peter Thorne is set to be out for a month to allow his injured shoulder to heal.

The striker, who has scored 11 goals this term, was left out of Sunday's 4-0 win over Morecambe after not feeling himself in the goalless draw against Lincoln on Boxing Day.

After talking the situation over with Bantams boss Stuart McCall, the pair have taken the joint decision that he should have a prolonged rest.

McCall was already in the market for a new striker after Willy Topp's recent departure from Valley Parade and this news now gives the search an added urgency as Bradford push for promotion.

McCall told the Telegraph & Argus: "With the shoulder injury he's got, it can be anything from two to four weeks. But we took the joint decision that he needs to rest up.

Pain barrier

"Peter felt as though he could get through the pain barrier and play and I credit him for doing that. You want that attitude in your players but it wasn't helping him or us.

"He was okay in training but that's not full contact and it's different from what you are getting in a game.

"After coming on against Lincoln on Boxing Day, he wasn't himself and he knew that. So we took the decision and he will just have to rest.

"He can still do his fitness work but has to avoid any tough, physical contact until the shoulder has settled down. Hopefully he'll be back nice and fresh before too long."

Thorne's goalscoring has petered out of late - with his last goal coming almost two months ago - and he has only started two of the last seven games.

Michael Boulding has stepped up to the mark - scoring his fifth goal in seven games against Morecambe to take his goal tally to 10 for the season - while Barry Conlon has also netted eight this term.

Looking

McCall added: "I was looking for one anyway before we knew about Thorney. So many things happen in football and teams that you might get a player from lose a manager (Leeds) but we're on the look-out.

"We do need another one challenging up top, even though we are the second top scorers in our league. It would just give us another option for the second half of the season."

McCall has a busy week ahead with the loanees in his squad all approaching their deadline.

He said: "I've got a few lads to sit down and talk to - not just the players, but agents and managers. We'll see where we go with the players already here and look to get a couple in when the window opens."