QUICK-THINKING central defender Jody Craddock, whose unstinting efforts in the 1-0 victory over Manchester City helped Sunderland keep their third consecutive Premiership clean sheet at the Stadium of Light, will be one of the first names on Peter Reid's teamsheet at Bradford this afternoon.

The quietly efficient Midlander is playing the best football of his career - yet he admits that this time last season he thought he was on his way from the Wearside club.

Kept out of the team by former England centre-half Steve Bould and Republic of Ireland international Paul Butler, the 25-year-old was farmed out on loan to Sheffield United.

"When I went to Sheffield United I thought that was it - I told my wife to get the bags packed," admitted the bargain £500,000 signing from Cambridge United.

"I really thought I was leaving the club. But then players got injured, I got my chance and I found myself back in the team - that's football for you.

"I'm happy to be back in the first team and I think I am playing the best football of my career.

"But I don't think I am at my peak yet - far from it - and hopefully I will get better and better."

Craddock's consistently efficient performances have been one of the features of Sunderland's rise up the Premiership table this season and he is hoping that new England manager Sven Goran Eriksson may take notice.

He said: "My main aim is to keep my place in the Sunderland team but it would be nice if the new England manager took notice - it's every footballer's dream to play for his country and I would be very happy if it happened to me.

"I am playing with good players around me and they have brought me on."

Craddock, who survived the arrival of Bould and Butler, found himself under more pressure when Reid brought Slovakian international skipper Stanislav Varga and Brazilian Emerson Thome to the club.

Craddock is now partnered with Thome and they are going from strength to strength.

"Emerson has helped me a lot and we both read each other very well," said Craddock.

But he admitted: "I didn't start too well this season and Stanislav Varga was in the team. But he got injured, I got my chance and I think I have taken it well and I have kept my place."

Craddock now expects a difficult game at Valley Parade, and said: "We will have to work hard down there to get a result.

"These are tough games - Bradford are struggling at the bottom of the table and they need the points at home. We won't underestimate the opposition but will be going for the three points to put us in a good frame of mind before we go to Arsenal."

Craddock was superb against Manchester City and helped keep the opposition quiet as Sunderland dominated the first half.

Scottish international Don Hutchison, deputising for the suspended seven-goal leading scorer Kevin Phillips, was outstanding in his emergency striking role, hitting the winning goal with a vicious free-kick in the 19th minute.

Sunderland were well on top and might have had more goals before the break, but City keeper Nick Weaver made a brilliant one-handed save from Niall Quinn and midfielder Gavin McCann should have claimed his first goal of the season.

But City looked a different team in the second half and with exciting teenager Sean Wright-Phillips causing problems on the right, were unlucky not to grab an equaliser.

Wright-Williams, only 19, hit the upright with a header and drove a shot narrowly wide, while Sunderland keeper Thomas Sorensen made a crucial save from substitute Paul Dickov to keep City at bay and make it four consecutive home victories in front of an appreciative crowd of 47,475.

Hutchison had to leave the field in the 82nd minute, being replaced by Danny Dichio, but he was only suffering from cramp after his four- game lay-off and he will be available at Valley Parade.

Phillips will also be able to resume his partnership with Quinn and Reid has a selection problem as he tries to find a midfield berth for Hutchison.

Full back Chris Makin, who also missed four games through injury, will also come into the reckoning