All eyes will be on Bradford’s Australian centre Adrian Purtell on Sunday as he prepares to make his comeback from a lay-off of almost 10 months.

Purtell has not played since he suffered a heart attack on the way home from the Bulls’ Magic Weekend defeat by Leeds last May but he was this week given the all-clear by a specialist to resume his career.

He has been included in Francis Cummins’ 19-man squad for the home game against Hull KR and looks certain to feature off the bench.

Bradford also have the services of England academy captain John Bateman, who has completed his recovery from a shoulder re-construction, and Cummins admits their return could not have been better timed, with Matt Diskin, Matty Blythe and Jamie Langley all ruled out of Sunday’s game and Chev Walker rated doubtful.

“It’s not ideal as we have a small squad,” said Cummins, who has also called up youngsters Jobe Murphy and Sam Wood as cover.

“We have quite a gap with our young players because, although they are all very good, they are very, very young.”

Purtell has been unable to make his return with partner club Dewsbury because of visa restrictions, but Cummins says he has no qualms about bringing him straight back into Super League.

“If Adrian wasn’t ready – if there was any doubt about his heart – then I wouldn’t be putting him out there,” he said.

“But the specialists have said to him, ‘You’ve got to forget that you’ve had the heart attack’, so it’s only down to match fitness for him now.”

While Bradford are down to the bare bones, the availability of hooker Josh Hodgson, who has served a one-match ban, and the return to fitness of utility back Craig Hall give Hull KR coach Craig Sandercock the option to change a winning team as they look for a third straight victory.