JERMAINE Anderson will happily reinvent himself as a striker if that’s what City boss David Hopkin wants.

Midfielder Anderson nearly scored after coming off the bench against Plymouth – only his second appearance since joining from Peterborough last month.

Hopkin suggested the 22-year-old could be pushed further forward to add another option for a team who have not scored in the last three games.

He said: “I’ve watched Jermaine in training and I think he could play up there as a striker.

“He’s definitely not a holding midfielder. He’s box-to-box with his physical presence.

“Even when we do shooting drills (in training), he shows some fantastic finishing.

“I thought he’d get us a goal and he was unlucky.”

Anderson’s cheeky backheel was kept out by Plymouth keeper Kyle Letheren as City could not turn a flurry of second-half chances into a goal in Saturday’s 0-0 draw.

“It was a bit of improvisation,” he said. “Doyler (Eoin Doyle) squared it to me and I just tried to flick it in but the keeper saved it.

“It would definitely have been on the showboat on Soccer AM, 100 percent! But maybe next time.

“We were pushing and pushing but unfortunately we didn’t manage to get the three points.

“I’ve played up front a few times but not a lot. But I’m just here to play for the team and wherever the gaffer wants me, I’ll put a shift in and do my best.

“I’m naturally a midfielder but I’ll play anywhere to the best of my ability. I like to get forward and try and score goals.”

Anderson had been limited to just one late sub outing in the Southend game. But he feels ready to play his part in City’s fight to stay up.

“As a footballer all you want to do is play every week. It’s definitely nice for me to get some minutes.

“I’ve been working really hard on and off the pitch and I got my chance.

“It took me a week or two to get up to speed with the rest of the lads running-wise and fitness-wise. But I’m definitely there now.

“I’ve got used to the training regime pretty quickly. Everybody is working hard and you’ve got to keep up with that if you want the chance of playing.”

Letheren thwarted City’s attacking efforts but they are now level on points with the three teams above them – although all have games in hand.

They are two points off next opponents Walsall and Hopkin insists they are still firmly in the mix.

The Bantams boss said: “If we’d taken three points, we would have been 18th or 19th. It’s that tight.

“But we’ll keep going and the players deserve great credit considering where we were in November.

“We were cut adrift and we’ve managed to come back. We’re on a good run, even though there are some games we should have won when we got a point.

“There’s still six or seven teams looking nervously over their shoulder.

“It’s been a tough season but we’ll keep working. I’m staying positive and I’m sure the players are – and with the fans’ backing I’m sure we’ll be fine.”

Hopkin has also confirmed he is unlikely to push for a deal with free agent David Edgar because the fit-again Kelvin Mellor, who was back on the bench on Saturday after 10 games, and Paudie O’Connor offer enough cover at centre half.