City's new brigade met the squad for the first time today to kick-off pre-season training.

Luke Cornwall, Robert Wolleaston and Gareth Edds joined their team-mates at the Bradford & Bingley Stadium as the Bantams blew away the cobwebs.

The only players due to miss the opening session were all coming back from honeymoon - Mark Bower, Paul Evans and popular signing Alan Combe. Andy Gray has also been given time off after playing for Scotland.

City were put through their paces by assistant manager Chris Dowhan and fitness coach John Roe, with boss Nicky Law still in Warwick on a UEFA course.

Captain David Wetherall believes the new boys will have plenty to prove.

He said: "They've seen what the good life in football can be at Premiership clubs and now they have come to Bradford to show they can make it.

"It must have been difficult for the likes of Luke Cornwall at Fulham to see so many players in front of him. But he's got a good chance here to play regularly, as Ben Muirhead found last season.

"At 22 you should be hungry to play. Hopefully the arrival of players like that will really benefit the side."

City are hoping to bring back Dean Windass but have concentrated their recruitment so far on untried talent.

Managing director Shaun Harvey said: "Nobody had heard of Simon Francis this time last year and look at the impact he had. And it was the same the year before with Tom Kearney who would have played a big part for us last season but for his injury."