MILLS MAKES CITY SWITCH

The 29-year-old striker signed for The Bantams in the summer of 1998 for £1 million and was influential in their promotion campaign last season though he only scored six goals this season before falling out-of-favour with the club last month over contract negotiations.

Joe Royle will be hoping Mills can rejuvenate City`s season as the Maine Road outfit have faltered of late going four games without a win.

No financial details were mentioned but it was reported yesterday that the West Yorkshire club wanted £250,000 for the striker`s services on a temporary basis.

The City boss was delighted with his new signing, saying: "Lee will play tomorrow at Barnsley. I have been aware of him for some time now but we had to move quickly yesterday in the face of opposition from other clubs.

"He is a twenty goal a season player and I have felt that when Shaun or Robert Taylor have been missing that we have lacked a bit of goal power up front.

"He is a powerful player. He is out of favour at the moment with Bradford and is hungry for success. He will be with us until the end of the season, we will see how it goes and if he does well we could make it a permanent move."

Royle has also enquired about taking Aston Villa defender Colin Calderwood on loan until the end of the season.

The 35-year-old former Scotland international turned down loan moves to Nottingham Forest and Portsmouth earlier this season but may opt to move to City temporarily as he has not featured in Villa`s recent run of form.

Ciaran Baynes