Bradford City manager Graham Alexander has outlined his expectations for Nick Powell's pre-season return. The 32-year-old striker, who scored against Barnsley last season, has been managing injuries and is now back with the Bantams.

What happened?

Powell featured in Saturday's opening friendly, a 2-1 win over FC United, and showed positive moments before coming off after 30 minutes in a pre-planned substitution.

Why it matters for Bradford City

Alexander has no doubt about Powell's ability but needs to be convinced he can play a much bigger part if City are to consider a new deal, given the team's current League One standing of 4th with 77 points, 22 wins, 11 draws, and 13 losses from 46 games.

What comes next?

The Bantams chief will manage Powell through pre-season, aiming for a significant reward from keeping him with the team, and City will leave it open-ended to see how things pan out during pre-season, with no time pressure on a new contract. As of now, Bradford City has scored 58 goals and conceded 51, with a goal difference of +7, and sits 26 points behind leaders Lincoln, making Powell's potential impact significant for the team's future success.