Midfielder Jimmy Bullard will have to fight to win back a place in the Town squad having returned to the club after his two-week suspension, says boss Paul Jewell. The Blues manager has confirmed that the 33-year-old won’t be involved against the Burnley this evening.
Jewell was surprised that Bullard hadn’t started a game since the Blues’ 4-0 defeat at Burnley at the end of November, but said he would have been in the line-up for the home match against Nottingham Forest in January had he not been taken ill.
The Blues manager says last season’s Player of the Year has got to work to win back his place in the squad and then the team: "Jimmy’s been away from the club for two weeks and I don’t see the need to change the squad at the moment. Jimmy’s back in training and it’s up to him to force his way back into the squad.
"His attitude since he’s been back has been first class and at the moment there are some good players who aren’t in our team, players who are desperate to get into the team.
"We want that real desire and competition for places to continue. I don’t want people sulking if they’re not playing, which they haven’t been. We want them fighting every day to get in the team.”