Exeter defender Cheick Diabate on challenge of Bradford City

Diabate’s arrival was announced a couple of hours before it was confirmed that Kevin McDonald had left the building.

And it was only a week earlier that another former Exeter team-mate Sam Stubbs had also been allowed to go to join Cheltenham.

Stubbs had made the same trek as Diabate from one end of the country to the other 18 months earlier – and the new Bantam acknowledges how much he learned from their time playing together in the Grecians side that won promotion from League Two in 2022.

Diabate said: “Stubbsy is a great guy and a good player as well. I used to look up to him.

“When we used to play together, in my first year in the first team, he was someone I could lean on. He would always give me advice.

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“Playing next to him made me confident because he’s a solid and reliable defender.

“It was the same with Kevin McDonald. He’s had a great career and played in the Premier League.

“When he was at Exeter, he was someone you look up and know that you can go and speak to. We got on very well.

“But literally the first day I came in (to City’s training ground), he was gone. I guess that’s just football and people move on.”

Diabate has been brought in to replace Sam Stubbs on a season-long loan, although there is a recall clause in January.

He will be fast-tracked into action by Aden Baldwin’s hamstring injury.

Baldwin is expected to miss the next three weeks or so and Diabate knows he needs to hit the ground running.

An assured showing in the EFL Trophy in midweek was a good start and the 22-year-old is keen to be tested.

“I feel personally that when I am comfortable, that makes my performance decrease.

“When I feel like I’ve got nothing to prove or maybe it’s not that big of a game, it doesn’t help me at all.

“But when there’s a bit of pressure on it, that helps way more.

“I’m here with something to prove. I’m obviously trying to prove to Exeter that I’m good enough to play in their first team.

“That’s the mentality I’ve come here with. I’ve got to show people my ability and what I’m about.

Cheick Diabate learned a lot from playing next to Sam Stubbs (Image: Robbie Stephenson/PA Wire)

“I wasn’t getting minutes and I’m coming to a good club. It’s still a challenge, especially when it’s clear what we want to achieve.

“The size of the club and the amount of fans they get as well is added pressure but I’m ready for that challenge. I’m ready to face it head on.”

Graham Alexander sensed that desire to push himself during their first phone call.

“He was so enthusiastic about the opportunity,” said the City boss.

"I'd seen him as a player and we were quietly confident he'd be able to fit in on the footballing bit.

“After speaking to him, I thought he will fit in nicely. He’s a guy with a positive outlook, he’s ambitious and he wants the challenge.

"I think Cheick making the move from Exeter - which is a fair distance from Bradford for a loan - when he's only known Exeter as a football club shows his commitment to us and to playing football.

"We've only had him a week, but I think he's going to be popular with the players, the staff and the supporters.

“We've talked so many times about the unique experience of playing for Bradford City and of playing against teams playing against Bradford City so if he's up for the challenge, he's in the right place.”

Exit trials after being released by Stevenage

Diabate has spent seven years in Devon after being released as a teenager by Stevenage. Exeter spotted him playing in exit trials – shop-window games organised by the EFL for young players who suddenly find themselves without a club to impress other scouts.

That was a real pressure situation with his potential career as a pro footballer on the line - not that Diabate felt it at the time.

“I wasn’t really nervous in the exit trials,” he admitted. “It’s more about enjoyment for me.

“When I step on the pitch, all those feeling go in terms of nerves. You might have butterflies before the game, but when the whistle goes and you’re in there, it’s just about business.

“You want to enjoy it as a player. You want that pressure and that’s when you enjoy your football the most, when it’s a big crowd, it’s a big game.”

Alexander and Exeter boss Gary Caldwell’s relationship as former Scotland international team-mates smoothed the move and Diabate can see similarities between them both.

“When I spoke to the gaffer, I just really wanted to come here. I didn’t want to look anywhere else.

“I’ve never done this before in my professional career and it did feel weird. Leaving Exeter was quite difficult.

“I’m originally from south-east London but for me, Exeter has been my home for the past seven years.

“I know the city in and out. I know people outside the football club as well and the club have been amazing to me while I’ve been there.

“I do love that club dearly, to be honest. But you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do sometimes in your career.

“I feel like coming here was the best choice for me.

“I learn quickly and when you’re a new player, you’ve just got to ask questions, talk to people and pick up whatever you can.”

Cheick Diabate tangles with Andy Cook for Exeter in 2022 (Image: Thomas Gadd)

Diabate is ready for his league bow at Valley Parade after a watching brief on the bench against Grimsby last week.

Alexander opted to bring on Jack Shepherd to cover Baldwin’s early exit but that allowed the new recruit time to study the defensive shape and tactics.

“You need to know your players around you in order to help them out and yourself,” added Diabate.

“I watched Byrner (Neill Byrne) and Jack play on Saturday. I think one game’s enough for you to know what type of players they are.

“It’s the same as Rich (Richie Smallwood) and Brad (Halliday). Watching that Grimsby game helped me a lot.

“I wanted to pick up on things quite quickly. I wanted to be ready to play.

“It was a great experience getting promoted with Exeter. When you’ve done it, you know what it takes so hopefully I can replicate that here.

“That’s the goal for any team to get promoted. It’s no different here – that’s what we want to achieve and I feel I can contribute positively to that.”