Wayne Jacobs' contract may run out this summer but the left back says he remains as committed to Bradford City as at any time in his six years at Valley Parade.

The defender who was 31 yesterday returned to the Bantams side for the first time in three months in the vital 3-2 victory over Watford two weeks ago.

Jacobs has spent the whole season on the transfer list after turning down a new deal during the summer. That means the longest-serving City player will be a free agent this summer and likely to leave Valley Parade for a new club.

But Jacobs says he is as determined as ever to help City's battle to avoid relegation back to the Nationwide League.

He said: "A lot of people ask me about what will happen during the summer, but all I want to do is play. I don't speak to my agent that often so I am not thinking about it.

"As a human being you cannot allow yourself to become dual-focused. If you have your mind on something else then your performance will suffer.

"As a footballer all you want to do is play. If you are not disappointed to be out of the side then there is something wrong with you.

"But it is how you deal with that disappointment which affects your life. I just try to do everything to my best ability.

"It all happened very quickly during the summer. A lot was made of it in the press, but the fact was I had talks one day and then the next day saw me on the list.

"I had nothing to do with all the speculation which followed that. My only involvement was that initial telephone call. My agent was involved after that and all I have done since is concentrate on playing."

Despite the summer wrangling, Jacobs started the first six games of the season and impressed with some fine displays.

He dropped down to the bench for the trip to Aston Villa but returned to replace the suspended Andy Myers when City lost at home to Barnsley in the Worthington Cup.

The left back retained his place at Wimbledon the following Saturday but did not play again until the recent victory over Watford.

He said: "I was glad and grateful to be kept involved at the start of the season. Looking at Darren Moore who was put on the list at the same time, he didn't get a game and I know how disappointing it was for him.

"I didn't see the Sheffield game but I know there was a general anxiety around the place in the days which followed. The Watford game lifted everyone."

And Jacobs is hoping to retain his place when glamour club Arsenal come to Valley Parade tomorrow.

He said: "I played down at Arsenal and they played really well against us. That is the only game I have been involved in and thought 'we didn't get a kick'. If selected tomorrow, it will be interesting to see how far we have come since that day."

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