Ashley Ward has had to ease his way into the Bradford City side following his £1.5 million transfer from Blackburn Rovers.

However, after starting a match for the first time against Arsenal last Saturday the 29-year-old striker is determined to keep his place.

Ward, who played up front alongside Benito Carbone after being on the bench in City's four previous Premiership matches, said: "It was great to play a full 90 minutes.

"I have not played a great deal of football since last season and I am looking forward to tomorrow's match at Aston Villa."

Ward, who joined City 24 hours before the first match at Liverpool, had to be content with a substitute's place in City's first four games - at Anfield and at Manchester United and at home to Chelsea and Leicester.

Then, after he made an impressive substitute appearance at Old Trafford, manager Chris Hutchings decided to leave out last season's scorer Dean Windass and give Ward his first full appearance.

He said: "I am settling in at the club and I am enjoying training. The fitness is OK, but obviously the more games you play the sharper you will be.

"There is competition for places at Bradford, but you expect competition at any club.

"During my time at Blackburn there were seven or eight £1m strikers in and out of the team. We have got a lot of good players here and there is competition in all areas."

Ward played at Barnsley in their only season in the Premiership, but he pointed out that, unlike Barnsley, who were relegated after just one season in the top flight, City had 'consolidated and brought in six new players, just over half the team'.

"That makes a big difference," he said. "Obviously the players who were at the club last season were good enough to keep them in the Premiership, but now we have got six players who have all got Premiership experience. That should stand us in good stead and allow the club to progress."