Heckingbottom Considering Bradford's Offer

<div class="headline"><div class="headline">McCall awaiting defender's answer</div><div style="padding-bottom: 5px">By <font color="#000000">Simon Parker</font></div><div style="padding-right: 5px; font-size: 10px; padding-bottom: 5px; text-align: right"><font color="#000000"></font><font color="#000000">Comment</font> <span style="vertical-align: middle">|</span> <font color="#000000">Read Comments (12)</font></div><table style="border: #ffffff 5px solid" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="10" align="right" border="0"><tbody><tr><td></td></tr><tr><td><span class="caption">Paul Heckingbottom has been having talks over extending his stay with City</span></td></tr></tbody></table>

Paul Heckingbottom is considering an offer to stay with City.</p>

Heckingbottom's half-season loan from Barnsley ran out on New Year's Day after the Accrington game and he has been training with the Tykes again.</p>

But he was back at Valley Parade today for talks over a proposed new deal and is thinking over the club's proposition.</p>

Stuart McCall said: &quot;We hope we can get it sorted imminently with Hecky.&quot;</p>

Heckingbottom, named City's player of the year in 2004, has enjoyed his second spell in West Yorkshire and recently revealed he would be keen to stay put for the rest of the campaign.</p>

The 30-year-old left back has made 26 appearances so far and is one of only two ever-presents in the league. The only game he missed was last month's FA Cup exit to Tranmere after being harshly red-carded against Stockport.</p><div id="midpagempu" style="display: block"><div class="adtxt">advertisement</div> </div>

Meanwhile, City are hoping for a positive report on Mark Bower's knee injury.</p>

The centre half goes into hospital for an MRI scan tomorrow - and McCall is keeping his fingers crossed that nothing untoward is discovered.</p>

Bower's knee locked during the pre-match warm-up on Tuesday, forcing McCall into a late reshuffle as back-up goalkeeper Jamie Waite was added to the bench.</p>

But an initial examination suggested the problem was not as serious as the City boss first feared.</p>

&quot;We got it assessed on Wednesday and things seemed to have settled down,&quot; said McCall.</p>

&quot;We're just waiting to see what the scan says but it doesn't look to be as bad as thought, which is good news.&quot;</p></div>