Paudie O’Connor has spoken of his delight at getting back on the training pitch, after the Bantams commenced pre-season preparations.
Stuart McCall’s plans began - on a non-contact basis - on Thursday, following a four-and-a-half month lay-off due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
The Irish defender is hoping to hit the ground running ahead of next week’s start of contact training.
He said: “It is good to be back. It has been a long few months, but it is huge for everyone to be doing what we all love again. All eyes are on the first fixture - at the start of September.
“We have had the running drills out and not much ball work, but that is part and parcel of pre-season. It has been a long time off and we have been pushing ourselves and each other.
“It is good to be back out there with the lads. Hopefully, we can keep going and get the balls back out soon.”
The City centre-back is hoping to kick on from last season’s curtailment and insists the motivation levels are still high.
He feels the players McCall has so far recruited will add quality to an already-talented squad.
He added: “We have a few new faces and some lads coming back with the likes of Billy Clarke, Dylan Mottley-Henry and the new lads, Levi Sutton and Elliot Watt.
“Hopefully, they can all mix in and hit the ground running, ahead of the first game of the campaign.
“The lads who were here last season were all disappointed with the way it finished.
“This time, we will try to finish what we started last year and hopefully get the club promoted and back into Sky Bet League One.”