JON Stead reckons Bradford City have rescued him from the football wilderness and put him back on the map.

The talismanic striker heads for Yeovil tomorrow looking for his third goal in a week.

Stead has been a huge influence during his second loan spell at Valley Parade, with only three of his 16 appearances ending on the losing side.

His arrival from Huddersfield has not only transformed City's fortunes but his own after a testing time when he found himself out of favour under former Town boss Mark Robins.

Stead has discovered a new lease of life across the M62 and said: "I have gone from getting very little football in a season and a half to playing every week – but it has been fine.

"I want to play as long as I can. Fitness-wise, it is not an issue.

"The main thing for me this season was that I had a full pre-season, even though I got messed about massively by Mark Robins. I didn't go away on tour with them and was training with the kids, week to week.

"But I used that as an incentive to get myself fit. The year before, I had missed all of pre-season and it hampered me.

"I am not one to write myself off and think that if one manager doesn't fancy it, that could be it for me.

"My focus was playing regularly and getting past five or six games. Then I would be fully into it and get the consistency I needed.

"The older I have got, the more consistent I feel I've been. I am not one to let my head drop, not at all.

"It is the easiest thing in the world to think, 'I'll just see out this contract'. But that is not me. It wouldn't do me or my family any favours.

"I have never conducted myself like that and I never will. I want to be part of a winning environment and I'm loving it here."

Stead scored the sixth goal of his City spell in Wednesday's 4-0 FA Cup thumping of Millwall. He is with the club for the rest of the season, including a possible crack at the play-offs, and admits he is playing for a full-time contract.

He wants to put down roots at the tenth stop of a journeyman career. The 31-year-old said: "The big thing is that the group is one of the best I have been in during my whole career.

"I have probably been in too many dressing rooms – but this is a great set of lads.

"I would say it stems from the manager and the coaching staff. They bring the characters in that reflect them; honest, hard-working people who enjoy coming into work every day.

"That is what they want and what they have got. That professionalism is giving us a chance, added with a bit of quality."

Stead feels the current squad has more about it than the one he first joined at the end of last season, when he played the final eight games to cover for the injured James Hanson.

He said: "I don't know what has changed since I arrived but there has been a shift. I would like to say 'me' but that isn't the case!

"When I came in last season, I knew what a great set of lads it was here. With two or three more additions, this is now a squad with not only quality but an honesty and determination to succeed.

"This is a club that has a hard work ethic in abundance and that has been the key.

"It is great to be here for the season and hopefully beyond. I have started every game since I came in, bar the first one when I'd just come through the door.

"It means I feel part of the club and part of what is going on. I want to be part of this longer-term too. I'm not so much playing for my future but I won't rest on my laurels.

"I want to keep putting in performances that might get me a longer deal at Bradford City. I want to continue my career here because I absolutely love it."