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Kenyan international Clarke Oduor faces an uncertain return to action for Bradford City’s upcoming FA Cup clash.
Harambee Stars defender Clarke Oduor will be racing against the clock to return to action for Bradford City’s FA Cup encounter this weekend.
The talented left-back, who has been sidelined for two consecutive matches, has been dealing with an injured shin since a rough challenge in the match against Gillingham, where he was forced off the field.
Although he is eager to return, the injury has left him unable to train, raising questions about his availability for this crucial fixture.
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Bradford City manager Graham Alexander has acknowledged that the decision to return will rest heavily on Oduor’s pain tolerance and his own comfort with the injury.
“He’s got a bruised shin and it’s just a matter of the pain threshold and when he feels comfortable enough to train and play,” explained Alexander as per Telegraph and Argus.
Despite the swelling that has kept him off the pitch, Oduor’s condition does not require specialized treatment, meaning it is down to the player’s resilience to determine his readiness.
The injury comes at an unfortunate time for both Oduor and Bradford City as the team struggles with the absence of multiple key players.
Oduor, who last featured for the Kenyan national team in September of the previous year, has been a steady presence on the field and is valued for his ball control, a skill that was noticeably missed in Bradford’s recent 1-0 home defeat to Doncaster.
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It was their first home loss since March, making Oduor’s potential return all the more critical to bolster City’s defense and maintain their competitive edge.
“It will be down to Clarke to declare himself fit. It’s not something that needs treating,” Alexander added.
“It’s bruising that needs to go down but there’s a limited amount of treatment you can get for something like that. It’s how quickly the body heals. Players never wait for it to heal completely, it’s just whether the pain threshold is manageable and you crack on.”
The City boss expressed confidence in Oduor’s abilities, along with those of the rest of his squad, but admitted that Oduor brings a unique quality to the team that is hard to replicate.
“He’s a good player as the other midfielders are, and he’s a little bit different to the other guys,” Alexander commented, recognizing Oduor’s particular skill set that stands out even among a well-rounded midfield roster.
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The road to recovery, however, remains uncertain. The bruising on Oduor’s shin is painful and lingering, with swelling that has stubbornly kept him off the training ground.
While Bradford City has managed to pull off respectable performances in recent games, the strain of missing key players is taking a toll.
Alexander acknowledged the team’s recent slip against Doncaster, emphasizing the need to maintain the momentum they had built.
“I know we let ourselves down on Saturday. But over the course of those games, I think we’ve done pretty well,” he said.
City has faced a string of absences in recent weeks, forcing Alexander to rely on a rotating roster of players who despite challenges have delivered strong performances.
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