TYLER Smith finished top scorer in the EFL Trophy last season.
With six goals, including a hat-trick against Manchester City under-21s, the City striker led the list – even though the team fell just short in the semi-finals.
But he has found himself out in the cold in his second year with the Bantams.
Smith’s last action was in mid-November in the same competition when City lost at home to Rotherham in the group stages.
He was subbed for Vadaine Oliver at half-time and has not been named in a match-day squad in the two months since.
With City’s four January recruits all cup-tied, coupled with Andy Cook’s season-ending injury and Olly Sanderson returning to Fulham, Smith could find himself back on the bench against Aston Villa under-21s in tomorrow’s third-round clash.
Tyler Smith celebrates his hat-trick against Man City under-21s (Image: Thomas Gadd)
But with another season still left on his contract after this one, his Valley Parade prospects remain bleak.
Tranmere were loosely linked with Smith in a previous window and he appears to be very much up for grabs. But there do not appear to be any obvious takers at this stage.
Graham Alexander admits he “can’t put his finger on” what will happen with the former Hull forward.
“Tyler’s been out for quite a period,” he said. “If you look at the competition we’ve had in those striking positions, it’s been quite full.
“Fortunately, until Cooky, we’ve had no injuries, so they’ve all been available and I just have to make decisions on first the team and then the subs bench.
“It’s down to each individual. When players are contracted, we have to respect those contracts.
“I’ve had maybe three or four conversations with Tyler back to pre-season.
“That was our first conversation on the future and it was him coming to me to ask questions. We’ve had two or three since then.
“I can’t tell you what his future looks like. If he’s here, he trains with us and competes to be in the squad every single day.
“Unless that changes from our perspective or his, it will continue that way. That’s where it is.
“It’s why I don’t like to carry too big a squad because you don’t want five or six players that are not in your matchday squad every week if you can help it.
“It’s not a healthy position for a player to be in. But it’s a fact of life and we’ll deal with whatever comes in during this month.”
