Home is where the heart is for Bradley

ATHLETIC will cross swords with a former transfer target when Plymouth swing into town this weekend.

Former Manchester City striker Bradley Wright-Phillips nearly signed for the club last season.

In an unusual move, Athletic officials openly admitted they had sought the signature of the Lewisham-born 25-year-old, half-brother of City and England winger Shaun Wright-Phillips, in a bid to find extra firepower.

The only thing stopping the player returning north for a loan spell back in March was a spate of injures at Home Park.

Plymouth have been glad to hold on to Wright-Phillips. The ex-Southampton player has revived his career to bang in seven goals in nine npower League One matches this season, including a brace in last week's 2-1 home win over Huddersfield.

Like many other clubs, Plymouth and new manager Peter Reid have had to deal with a reduced budget.

Plymouth lost the services of two strikers in the summer — Jamie Mackie and Ashley Barnes, to Queens Park Rangers and Brighton respectively.

Also on the way out in the summer were full-back Gary Sawyer, who moved to Bristol Rovers on a free transfer, goalkeeper Lloyd Saxton who joined Bradford, and midfielder Simon Walton, who went to Sheffield United on loan.

Heading the other way, Bondz Ngala has been a fixture at centre-back since joining from West Ham, but former FC United and Droyslden striker Rory Patterson, a Northern Ireland international, has struggled since his move to the club in the summer and has managed only one goal.

Plymouth's record in the league this season has been a mixed bag.

Former Manchester City and Sunderland boss Reid has led his team to 16 points and the team sits in 17th place in the table.