GRAHAM Alexander will keep Newcastle duo Harrison Ashby and Joe White in the loop about their City absence.
The pair arrived on loan from the Toon last month but neither were involved in the squad at Luton on Saturday.
Both have started just one game each with wing-back Ashby playing 136 minutes in total for the Bantams and attacking midfielder White 88.
“It’s always going to be tricky if you’ve got a squad of 22 outfield players and they are all fit,” admitted Alexander.
“I don’t think we carry players that can’t contribute. There’s no one that can’t help us win a game.
“They’ve all got their attributes and values to the team. They are all good lads who want to play.
“You’ve just got to have that consistency and clarity about what you want from your team and who you feel is in the right zone to produce that.
“We make it clear to every player when we offer the opportunity to come to Bradford that there’s no difference between permanent players, loan players, old players, young players.
“Everyone has got to compete for the right to play.
“It’s a squad game and we buy into that because we value them all.
“It’s difficult, especially when there are four or five missing out, and I’ll sit down with those guys when we have the opportunity.”
City keep in regular contact with the parent clubs of their loan players to detail their progress – and why they are not featuring.
“I think it’s important we give valuable feedback.
“Anyone coming from a good club like Newcastle, I know Eddie Howe and he’ll be running a competitive squad as well. There are no gimmes.
“The competition element is part of a footballer’s life. You have to understand it and overcome it.
“Anyone who’s had a full career of playing football has had to show or prove he’s better than the next guy to play that many games.
“I’ve been there as a player and sometimes you’ll look into the slightest thing as to why you’re not playing. This is why we have clarity to give them specific reasons about what they need to work on.
“All the time you’re stretching these individuals; you’re giving them something to work specifically towards.”
With a big question mark over the Luton game going ahead due to the weather, City travelled south with extra numbers. A local all-weather pitch had been booked as a back-up for 1pm on Saturday for an in-house training game.
“We didn’t want it to be a wasted weekend,” added Alexander.
“With the game being on, obviously the matchday squad all had a part to play but the ones who missed out unfortunately missed out on training as well.
“We’ll speak to the individuals involved because I always want them to have clarity in what they have to do.
“But sometimes it’s just two good players going up against each other and it’s hard to give them a negative critique while they’re not playing. We just have to make a decision and hopefully it’s the right one.
“It’s hard for all loan players in January, especially if you join a club that has had a really good first half of the season. To break your way into that team is difficult.
“They all understood the challenge. When we first spoke to the majority of them, we were in a really good position and great form.
“We still value them, whether they play, whether they start, come on as sub or are just outside the squad for any particular game.
“You’ve seen many individuals this season that can come straight into the starting line-up with the right attitude and preparation and have shown the right things during the week.”
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