CONOR Sellars is confident City can maintain a happy camp after their influx of January recruits.
The Bantams have made six signings in the window and all are likely to be in the squad for today’s clash at leaders Cambridge – the club’s first game in 2021.
Interim bosses Mark Trueman and Sellars have shaken things up since City last played in their goalless draw with Port Vale at Valley Parade on December 29.
It has given the duo plenty of selection choice as they approach another hectic schedule of fixtures to make up for the backlog from the recent postponements.
But Sellars believes they can keep morale high among those who may not be getting a game straight away.
He said: “That’s the key for myself and Mark. We have to create an environment where players feel they are worthy and feel around it, if you like.
“I think they’ll see the programme of games coming up and be thinking, ‘there’s going to be an opportunity for me here’.
“They’ve got to make sure they are preparing properly for that and not relaxing too much being on the bench.
“They need to be doing as much as the lads that are playing, whether that’s doing extras (at training) or being in the gym more.
“If it’s a certain amount of games off every player, they must make sure they are 100 per cent ready and fit. That’s crucial for the team.
“That’s exactly what we’re about. We need to have the players ready knowing that everyone’s together and people can be trusted to do the job when they are required.”
Oldham striker Danny Rowe is the latest new face in the squad to follow Matty Foulds, Rumarn Burrell, Niall Canavan, Jordan Stevens and Will Huffer.
City have also released Kurtis Guthrie, Ben Richards-Everton, Jackson Longridge and Austin Samuels during a busy month.
Sellars added: “We’ve had outgoings as well so it’s not as if the numbers have increased too much in terms of the overall squad.
“It’s laid itself out quite evenly so there aren’t too many problems.
“But you speak to any footballer and they all want to play. They’re not happy when they are not involved.
“But you’ve got to be able to manage these people and make sure you treat them fairly.
“They are here and you’re working hard to make them better and give them opportunities when they arise – then they’ve got to take them.
“The players not involved at the minute have seen how well the current 11 have been playing.
“For managers, that warrants the opportunity to do it with that team again and again. So they’ve got to be patient.
“But if the players are listening, the biggest thing I would tell them right now is to prepare for your chance.
“Don’t get lazy and think that’s you done. Make sure you’re doing more than you are already so that when you come in, you’re there to take people’s places.
“If you do well, you’ll keep the shirt.”
The absence of any games this month up to now has possibly hindered City spotting any more potential holes before the February 1 deadline.
But Sellars said: “We’ve done it slightly differently because we’ve tried to plan ahead of the window.
“You start to see weaknesses within games and areas that you need to improve.
“However, we have tried to formulate a plan for what areas we need to strengthen for what reason and the players available.
“We’ve been clear with what we’ve wanted and, so far, we’ve got the players that we’ve targeted.”
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