Chib Chilaka’s time with Avenue could put him on the right track to making the professional grade with City.
Peter Taylor can see a big difference in the burly striker from his loan spell with the Bantams’ non-league neighbours – and is tipping him to follow in David Syers’ footsteps.
Chilaka has been limited to only two appearances because of the weather but he scored in both and Taylor is quite keen to extend his stay in the Evo-Stik League.
Taylor said: “I’m delighted that Chib is getting games. To be honest, he’s looked really good in training. He looks exactly the reason we took him in the first place.
“You see the way Syers has progressed with us and we think Chib could be the same. There’s no reason why he can’t do it as well.
“There’s loads of rough edges but he is a very hungry young player that wants to be a pro.
“He’s got such strength and, when he gets it right, is very hard to play against. You’ve seen teams like Macclesfield who have quick, strong athletes up front and that’s how I see Chib.”
Chilaka has been limited to only 81 minutes of first-team football for the Bantams so far. He was thrust into action early as a Carling Cup substitute against Preston in August and has also come off the bench against Morecambe and Colchester.
But City view the 24-year-old as a longer-term project, which is why Taylor was happy to pin him down on a one-year contract.
With Chilaka likely to get more opportunities with Avenue than the occasional reserve run-out, the Bantams boss is hoping to reap the benefit in the second half of the season.
Taylor said: “It doesn’t surprise me that they want to extend (the loan). The good thing about the second month is that you can bring him back at short notice if necessary.
“But I wouldn’t mind him having another couple of games and then get him back in the new year.”
Meanwhile, City’s postponed trip to Aldershot has been rearranged for Tuesday, January 18.
It means the Bantams face two long journeys in four days as they are schedued to play at Oxford the previous Saturday.
* City will be at Preston in the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup. Preston made home advantage count to defeat Swansea 2-1 and book a tie against David Wetherall’s side in the new year.
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