MARK Hughes believes there is a fresh look about City as they head into crunch time in the promotion race.

After a couple of stop-start months making it hard to maintain any real momentum, the season is about to put the foot on the accelerator again.

With 20 games to go, February is shaping up to be a pivotal month for City’s fortunes.

Saturday’s home game against Mansfield, who have just taken the final play-off spot from them, kicks off a run against teams with top-seven aspirations.

A visit to second-placed Stevenage is followed by clashes with Tranmere, Barrow and Doncaster, who are all in the pack currently jostling for position just behind the Bantams.

And the month finishes with that rearranged trip to fast-improving Gillingham, who are unrecognisable from the side that struggled up to Christmas after heavy January investment.

It is a testing period that will provide a good indicator whether City are up for the fight going into the business end of the League Two campaign.

Hughes has shuffled resources in the transfer window with six in and six out as we approach the deadline.

He has added the experience of Matt Derbyshire and Adam Clayton as well as younger recruits Tolaji Bola, Dara Costelloe and Thierry Nevers and untried Irish centre half Ciaran Kelly.

Yann Songo’o became the latest exit in a month that has also seen the departures of Fiacre Kelleher, Tyreik Wright, Lee Angol, Jake Young and Matty Foulds.

Apart from losing Wright, the biggest blow in recent weeks, the rest were all sanctioned by the City boss to “freshen up” his options.

“I think there’s a little bit of that thinking going on,” said Hughes. “But it is important at this stage.

“Everybody starts the season with great enthusiasm because they feel they will be part of the first 11.

“Some haven’t been able to manage that on a regular basis. They’ve been really patient and haven’t caused me any problems whatsoever.

“But it comes to a point where you’ve got to be fair to them and guys that feel they want that game time between now and the end of the season.

“You look at that a lot more favourably because they’ve been so patient and supportive of those in the team. They’ve given that support and trained correctly.

“I understand they’ve done their part and, as a reward, need to go out and play.

“It will never be done if I felt we would be weakened. If we can do it, we’ll look favourably, but if it’s not possible then it won’t happen.”

There could be one or two more late tweaks before the window shuts but Hughes has been pleased with the changes City have been able to implement.

“You look at your needs and what you feel will enhance the group. You do your homework obviously but whenever you bring in a player it’s a slight risk.

“You’re never quite sure how they will react to a new group. But for the most part, integrating somebody is a lot easier if they are good players.

“Sometimes it causes a problem if you bring somebody in who isn’t embraced because there’s a slight doubt about their ability to make a difference.

“I think all the players I’ve brought in will help us, so I don’t anticipate they’ll have a problem.

“The group is open anyway and very welcoming. They are good lads who want to see us successful.

“Seeing good players coming into the club shouldn’t undermine people. They should take the view they are coming to help us to achieve what we all want.”

Some of those not in the picture could still secure a loan move to the National League in the coming weeks. The transfer window restrictions do not apply to non-league clubs.

But despite the large numbers in the dressing room, Hughes insists nobody should feel pushed out.

“We’d like to think we involve everybody," he added.

“Sometimes we have numbers on the training field that aren’t ideal. When everybody is fit, there are probably one or two too many for exactly what we do.

“But because we’ve been doing it a long time and have good coaches with a good understanding of what’s required, it doesn’t matter what number we are working with we can put on a good session.

“It doesn’t mean just because we want to do a certain thing, we put a group in a corner and they get a little bit disenfranchised. That’s when you get problems.

“We feel we improve and integrate everybody. I don’t think we’ve ever pushed people away just because it suits our needs on any given day.

“That leads to players being upset with their situation. We include everyone and that’s why I think the spirit is really good.”