Interview with new Bradford City midfielder Adam Clayton

And the former Bantam has urged him to take his old shirt number at Valley Parade.

He now plays for Wellington Phoenix but Clayton was on the phone to find out his thoughts about joining his old club.

Clayton said: "He's over in New Zealand, so normally either he's fast asleep or I'm fast asleep but I spoke to him the day before I came in for the medical to tell him. He told me I'd love it.

"He said he really enjoyed it and wished he could have stayed a lot longer. He said the place, the staff, were all good.”

Ball, who was best man for Clayton’s wedding, was one of the few bright spots during City’s relegation season in 2018-2019. On loan from Rotherham, he scored seven goals in 42 appearances.

"Bally's had the same sort of education as me,” added Clayton. “We came through at Man City together.

“He's big enough and strong enough to deal with it. And he's a really good player - that helps when you're in bad situations, if you're a good player you can rely on your ability.

"I've been to watch him many times. I might try and take his squad number, I think it was 40. He did mention that to me on the phone.”

David Ball enjoyed his season with City despite getting relegated (Image: Thomas Gadd)

Clayton is the sixth window recruit for Mark Hughes and second in a few days after left back Tolaji Bola. Does that make it any easier to settle into a new dressing room?

"Honestly, I don't know,” he admitted.

"Coming in yesterday I don't know who's new, who's old. My transfer came out of the blue, really, so there wasn't a lot of time to do the research, it was just ‘get there’.

"The dressing room's lively, no one looked like they were sat on the edges of it.

“There have been quite a few debates - Love Island, football, it’s very smiley.

"It was very loud and everyone was involved. It was quite a funny sight, to be fair.”

Mark Hughes intends to deploy Clayton at the foot of a midfield diamond or in a central two. The 34-year-old feels he can play alongside skipper Richie Smallwood.

"Hopefully me and Richie can play together, I don't see any reason why we can't. We were together at Boro for a long time when he was a young lad.

"He's a really good player, club captain and I've got a lot of respect for Richie in every way.

"It's up to the manager who he picks but hopefully we're in there together.

“I’d like to say passing is my strongest point. I look to get on the ball and try to dictate the tempo for my team, which is quite tough in League Two.

“It is a bit more chaotic than normal, there are so many moving parts and a lot of teams are constantly on the press or play with the long ball and try and get on the seconds.

“That’s hard to deal with when done right, so it’s a very difficult league.”

Clayton insists there is no bitterness over his sudden Doncaster exit - but is already well aware when the Bantams are due at the Eco-Power Stadium.

"The club probably had meetings about what they could do with my wages, so fair enough. There are no hard feelings on my part, I really enjoyed my time there.

"I was having a really good season, I was enjoying it. It was very much out of the blue on my side of things.

"I'd played every game and felt really part of the team, I was captain and really enjoying it.

"But if someone wants to do their thing, he's the manager, it's up to them. I want to be somewhere I'm wanted, appreciated and can play my football.

"I think we're back on the 25th (of February) so I'll see you soon!

"If I could encapsulate what I had at Doncaster and bring it over here, I don't think there's anywhere better for me to do that.

"I've always found I've done well when being questioned, coming out of teams or off setbacks. I always feel like I've come out better from them.”

Carlisle at Valley Parade tomorrow would be an appropriate start.

After all, it was with the Cumbrians that Clayton took his first steps in senior football when Hughes sent him out on loan from Man City as a raw 20-year-old in 2009. He would play 36 games - including the final of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.

Adam Clayton has signed a short-term deal to the end of the season (Image: Thomas Gadd)

"The Wembley trip was the highlight, a really good day. We got beaten 4-1 in the end but it was by a Southampton team that I think won League One and the Championship in consecutive seasons after - (Adam) Lallana, (Ricky) Lambert etc.

"But it was the gaffer who sent me out to get some first-team experience in League One and it was really good.

"The football means a lot up there and they know what they want. I had a really, really good time up there.

"I'm straight into the mix, my new home, my new job.

"I'm sure the fans will show me how much it all means tomorrow when it's such a big game. You'll walk into the cauldron and it's game-time."