DAVID Hopkin faces a selection dilemma for City’s opening group game of the Checkatrade Trophy tonight.

The Bantams boss is keen to name a strong side as he looks to clock up his first win in charge when they face Everton’s under-23s.

But with 13 players still out of action, he cannot afford to risk any more injuries at the start of a hectic run heading into October.

Hopkin admitted: “We have to be very careful.

“If we had a full squad to pick from, I’d be playing the strongest team that I could. I want to win my first game.

“But we have to make sure we don’t get any more injuries because we can’t afford that.

“We need to pick a team that we think will be competitive but I will have to play a few younger boys.

“Saturday is a massive league game and then we play Wimbledon next Tuesday.

“It’s difficult and we have to make sure we get the balance right.”

Competition rules state that teams must field at least four outfielders who started the last game or will do the next one – or at least four with more than 40 league appearances.

Hopkin added: “We’ve only got about five available who’ve played that amount so the experienced players are going to have to play.

“It’s not ideal but those are the rules of the competition and we have to abide by them. Some of the boys who will be playing have played a lot of games.”

But there could also be a chance for the likes of midfielder Eliot Goldthorp, who has been on the bench for the last two games, and Reece Staunton.

The centre half became the club’s youngest ever player last season when he came on against Rotherham in the competition as a 15-year-old.

“We know it’s going to be a tough game,” added Hopkin. “We’re playing against a very good team.

“Everton’s budget for their under-23s will probably be bigger than most League One clubs to get boys in.

“They beat Spurs 6-0 at the weekend and I’ve seen the footage of them.

“It’s a game we want to win but we have to see the best way of going forward.

“We’re at the stage now where we need something but the performances are getting better.

“We’ve played Charlton, Blackpool and Doncaster, three teams in really good form.

“But I spoke to the (Doncaster) staff afterwards and they said it’s the hardest game they’ve played. That’s credit to the players who kept going.

“It was the first time in the three weeks I’ve been here that we’ve come on stronger and hopefully could have finished with a point.

“It’s encouraging and hopefully the fans will stay with us.

“They know we are struggling and light in numbers. But if we can keep up the performances at some stage it’s going to change and hopefully that’s tonight.”