The on-loan striker played his part in a 3-1 win over Wimbledon on December 19 that lifted the Cobblers into 12th spot.
Northampton will arrive at Valley Parade to renew acquaintances with Wheatley tomorrow second from bottom and 10 points below safety.
They are in a dire situation after a spectacular collapse which has seen them win just once in 19 games since that victory.
That sole success at home to Stevenage was two months ago – they have lost seven of the last eight games and four in a row.
Wheatley was recalled by Manchester United at the end of last year before joining the Bantams in the mid-season transfer window.
The 20-year-old is still to get off the mark for City after scoring three times in 20 league starts at Sixfields. But Northampton were gutted to lose him.
Chairman Kelvin Thomas admits he is “shell-shocked” by their fall of a cliff since - although he insists that Wheatley’s unwelcome exit was not the key factor.
He told the Northampton Chronicle & Echo: “Losing Ethan Wheatley was obviously a blow but I don’t think anyone at that time thought it would be such a devastating blow.
“But I don’t think losing Ethan is the main reason for our slide.
“I’d love to pinpoint reasons for our form but I really can’t and there are lots of internal discussions in the background because we haven’t done a good enough job since Christmas.”
Kevin Nolan was sacked last month and Colin Calderwood stepped up from his role as technical director to take the interim management role until Northampton make a permanent appoint in the summer.
But he is still looking for his first point in charge as the Cobblers look destined for a return to League Two after three seasons.