Bradford can still win promotion, says Stephen O'Leary

O'Leary started his career at Luton

Bradford City midfielder Stephen O'Leary believes the Bantams can still gain promotion this season.

City are currently 13th, six points off the play-off zone and 19 away from the automatic promotion places.

"I think with the players we have coming back we are looking strong," O'Leary told BBC Radio Leeds.

"We have over 20 games left of the season, so that's a lot of football. If we get everyone fit and they all stay fit, I think we have a good chance."

The 24-year-old Irishman signed for Bradford in pre-season after impressing during a trial, but has only played one league game, having broken his toe in warm-up in August.

"Personally I just want to forget about 2009 - with all the injuries it wasn't a good year for me. I'm now just focusing on 2010 and think it will be a much better year for me," said O'Leary.

"My main aim is to make sure I'm totally right when I return to action. I want to start playing again and show this club, the fans and the players why this club signed me."

O'Leary is one of a number of long-term absentees who are close to returning, along with fellow midfielder Omar Daley and strikers Peter Thorne and Michael Boulding.

"Omar is a quality player, I can't think of a better goal-scorer in the league than Peter and we also have Michael coming back too, so that's a lot of quality returning for us.

"The bad weather means [injured players] are missing fewer games, so in a way I guess that's a good thing."