CITY new recruit Adam Clayton reckons he’s got a “good few years” left in his playing career.

The midfielder, who has just turned 34, has clocked up nearly 500 career games to add plenty of experience to the Valley Parade squad.

He has joined on a free transfer from Doncaster on a short-term deal until the end of the season.

And Clayton, the sixth signing of the January window, insists there is plenty more left in the tank.

He said: “I’m nowhere near the end of my time in football playing-wise. I feel good, I’ve got a young family keeping me on my toes.

“Being 34 in normal life is a young man, obviously in football it’s not. But I keep myself fit, eat right, do the right protocols and I can’t see myself stopping for a good few years yet.”

Clayton revealed that the move happened quickly after Doncaster boss Danny Schofield made it clear that he would not be in his plans for the remainder of the campaign.

“We got beaten by Tranmere (on Boxing Day) and then a couple of days later the manager said you can look for other options.

“It came as a bit of a surprise. I was taken out the team when he first came in, but it didn’t seem that drastic until after the Tranmere game.

“He wants to go his own way and that’s down to him. He was straight with me and I appreciate that.

“Luckily, I managed to sort something out to come to Bradford. I think the club got what they wanted and I’ve got what I wanted, so it worked out.”

Having played for both Leeds and Huddersfield, Clayton knows the weight of expectation in West Yorkshire as he builds up to a home debut against fourth-placed Carlisle.

“I’ve been at Leeds United where the expectations are probably similar in what they demand from the players week in, week out,” he added.

“I’m only from Harrogate, 20 minutes away, so I know what football means to the Yorkshire area.

“If you give 100 per cent and are trying your best, the Yorkshire fans stay with you.

“It’s about continuing what the lads have been doing. We’ve been in the top six or seven for most of the season, so we’ll try and put a little run together and touch those automatic places.

“Saturday is massive against a team around us, it’s like a six-pointer.

“Doncaster played Carlisle not long ago and managed to win, so hopefully we can do the same.

“They are a very strong team, the two lads in midfield pick up a lot of second balls, they play some nice football and are quite aggressive.

“If we can match that energy, win the midfield battle and try and get a goal we’ll hopefully be okay.”

Clayton began his career under Mark Hughes as a youngster at Manchester City and knows the management team well.

“I’ve known both from the Man City days. It seems like a very long time ago.

“Glyn (Hodges) was the reserve team manager and the gaffer took me into the first team set-up and gave me a taste of it. I travelled for more or less a season and got on the bench a few times.

“I know he’s a top manager and top coach, that’s another caveat to coming in and being part of it.”