STUART McCall believes a rejuvenated Kurtis Guthrie can stake his claim in City’s attacking plans.

The Bantams boss is in the market for another striker after sanctioning James Vaughan’s exit earlier this week.

City are being linked with a host of names as they look to beef up the frontline in time for next month’s kick-off.

McCall still has Lee Novak, Clayton Donaldson and Guthrie at his disposal as well as Billy Clarke.

And he is hoping that former Stevenage man Guthrie will make his mark after a difficult start to his time at Valley Parade.

Guthrie played just twice last season after being signed right before the deadline at the end of the January window.

And the striker’s full debut against former club Stevenage lasted just 73 minutes when he was taken off after a poor night.

A knee injury then kept Guthrie out before the season’s premature finish.

But McCall has been impressed with how the 27-year-old has knuckled down during the time away and is confident he will have a role to play.

McCall said: “Kurtis came up over the summer from where he stays down south to his base in Leeds and was working privately with our fitness coach.

“He showed an attitude that he really wants to be a success this season and he’s come back stronger for it.

“We obviously didn’t see the best of him last year. He had a couple of games and then he got injured.

“He didn’t get the chance to settle into his new club because of that. But he has come back to pre-season in a real determined fashion and is training really well.”

McCall revealed there had been interest in Guthrie, who signed for an undisclosed fee until the end of the 2021 campaign.

He made it clear that nobody was looking to push him out. Guthrie just wanted to hear that reassurance.

McCall added: “A couple of clubs did inquire about taking him and we spoke about it.

“Kurtis was keen to stay as long as he felt he was wanted here. He’s shown a good attitude and that’s what I want to see.

“You look at his record before coming here. He’s scored goals at this level (for Colchester and Stevenage).

“If he keeps training like he is doing, he could be a good asset to us.”

City play their first private practice match today against a team from a higher division, although Guthrie may miss out as a precaution because of a slight tight hamstring.

McCall is trying to persuade a couple of forwards to consider dropping down to League Two.

Reports of interest in 2018 target Kristian Dennis, Boreham Wood’s Kabongo Tshimanga and former Mansfield striker Danny Rose have all been played down.

Internet talk of a return for Jordy Hiwula is also unlikely while City are understood to have knocked back Tranmere’s offer of including Stefan Payne in a package for Vaughan.

“Our name is obviously getting thrown in with every striker,” admitted McCall.

“Before we were back for pre-season, when agents came on to me it was about midfield and right back. They never mentioned a striker because we had four of them.

“Now obviously, it’s become clear that we need another one in. It might take time but we’ve certainly got the room in the salary cap.”