With every kick for Barrow, Dominic Rowe is thinking of Bradford.

The tricky little winger has impressed during his temporary stint at Holker Street.

Barrow were so pleased with him that they badgered City to extend his original one-month loan spell until the end of the year – something his parent club were happy to do.

For while Rowe may be out of sight of Valley Parade, he is certainly not out of mind.

His progress is the blueprint for the development programme that has been in place since the summer. The young players train through the week with City and then play every weekend for their non-league loan side.

It’s City’s method of turning “boys into men”.

Each of the youngsters sent out elsewhere is given their own individually-tailored improvement programme. So the plan is that when they return, Phil Parkinson will receive a hungry young player fully equipped for the demands of first-team action.

Rowe is ticking all the boxes right now, which is why he has signed an extended contract to tie him to City for a further 18 months.

Parkinson saw him play recently at Grimsby and has been receiving regular reports on his progress. The news from the north-west has been very positive.

He said: “We’re pleased with Dominic and, from our reports, he has improved.

“He’s playing at a good standard and it’s a great education for him to be at that level.

“We’ve seen enough to suggest he is worth keeping on board for a while longer. That’s why we gave him the new deal.

“Let’s see if he can keep progressing as he has been and can get close to our first team.

“The challenge is there for these lads when they go out on loan. What better way to push yourself closer to our first team than go away and do well?

“We’ve got staff like Wayne Allison who is going out and watching these kids to make sure we keep our eye on them but we speak to the managers all the time.

“The players are made aware that we will be monitoring them every step of the way.”

Rowe was thrown into the City mix by Peter Jackson at Southend last season. It was a pretty thankless task to come off the bench with his side already 4-0 down.

It was no easier when he made his first start in the final-day 5-1 home crushing by Crewe.

But Rowe showed enough to suggest he was one worth keeping tabs on for the future.

After featuring in pre-season, it seemed his chance would come quicker than expected. But the arrival of wingers Jack Compton, Michael Bryan and Kyel Reid ensured Rowe would not be rushed through.

He is relishing his time with the Bluebirds and believes the Blue Square Premier grounding is a valuable step towards breaking into City’s squad.

“It’s a good experience going over there,” said Rowe. “It’s a decent standard because it’s only a league below, so there isn’t much difference at all.

“I’m getting a lot of game time so I’m happy with that. Obviously it’s competitive football so it’s a lot better playing every week again than having reserve games only once a month.

“We are doing well, which helps. Barrow just stayed up last season but now we’re only a few points off the play-offs.

“I’m feeling a lot fitter and stronger as I go along and my form has been good.”

The right-footed Rowe, who has been playing on the left side and cutting in, has earned good reviews from the Barrow fans and scored a memorable goal against Kidderminster.

But it was the new contract from Valley Parade that has really spurred him on.

He added: “It’s good to know I’ve got something behind me. I don’t have to look over my shoulder all the time and worry about getting another year.

“Getting that stability shows that I must be doing something right.”