Walsall new recruit Songo'o relished the battle for Bradford City

It was a common phrase whenever the Frenchman was interviewed.

But his go-to cliché summed up a committed performer who very much put it all out there on the pitch.

Songo’o was certainly not the most skilled player in the squad but his effort and drive were never brought into question.

“He is a battler and a winner,” announced Derek Adams when he signed the former Cameroon youth international for a fourth time.

“I have a feeling our supporters will enjoy watching Yann put his body on the line for three points.”

Songo’o twice won promotion from League Two under the Scotsman - but could not repeat that feat at Valley Parade.

A battler definitely but a winner? Nowhere near as often as anyone would have liked in claret and amber.

Still, he was one of the better performers in an overall underwhelming first season.

He switched to centre half under Adams and had an extended run at the back after Niall Canavan’s sudden departure to Barrow this time last year.

Eight of City’s 10 clean sheets in the league came with Songo’o playing at the back rather than centre midfield.

Songo’o insisted he was “happy to play anywhere” but he still hankered for his regular position in the middle of the park.

When Mark Hughes was unveiled as Adams’ replacement, Songo’o was quick to make that point.

“In the first week, he pulled me to one side and reminded me he was a midfield player,” Hughes said towards the end of last season.

“But I think he’s done very well in the role I’m asking him to do. I appreciate that he is still coming to terms with the position at times.

“He’s been prepared to maybe in his own mind sacrifice a little bit of his natural game to really help out the team.

“He’s a player that has got a better understanding of how to play the position now just by virtue of how much time he’s spent with us.

“I’d like to think he’s enjoying learning that part of it.

“But it’s always better to have a number of strings to your bow and Yann’s got that.

“We tap into his experience. He understands the level and that’s important wherever he plays.

“He’s no problem. He accepts criticism and he’s a good professional.”

But Songo’o found himself well down the pecking order going into City’s first full season with Hughes at the helm.

Yann Songo'o was one of City's better performers last season (Image: Thomas Gadd)

The summer overhaul in the dressing room saw the arrival of three centre halves - with Matty Platt and Romoney Crichlow soon establishing an effective partnership. Ciaran Kelly has also been added to provide competition in time.

Richie Smallwood’s capture in midfield, and now Adam Clayton, has filled that deeper holding role that Songo’o had predominantly played in his career.

Opportunities have been limited to the odd minutes here or there as a substitute late in the game.

Of his 14 league appearances, only two have been from the start.

Songo’o was his solid self in City’s last away win at Sutton in November, covering the absence of the suspended Platt - much less so when staying in for the injured Crichlow for an uncomfortable afternoon against Northampton a week later.

His other four full outings were all in the Papa Johns Trophy with mixed results.

According to stats from transfermarkt.co.uk, he has played 327 minutes of league action - just under five and a half hours.

His last three appearances from the bench against Harrogate, Salford and Wimbledon totalled 20 minutes.

On each occasion, he was brought on to help protect what they had got and saw the points through for two wins and a draw with 10 men.

That was his value to the squad - but a player used to regular combat throughout his career needed more.

As he reshuffles resources with 20 games to go, Hughes has said he would try to be fair to those who have been on the fringes of the team.

He said last week: “For those who feel they haven’t had opportunities, sometimes you’ve got to be right by them and allow them to go out and let other guys take over their roles at the club.”