Bantams striker Jake Young is league top scorer with Swindon

The striker has been scoring goals for fun since joining Swindon on a season-long loan in the summer.

Young is the division’s top gun on 16 – equalling his combined tally for his previous three seasons in the pro game.

Seeing the 22-year-old scoring so freely has understandably caused plenty of frustration among the City fanbase.

But City are expected to activate the recall clause in the deal in the January transfer window.

Alexander confirmed they are keeping close tabs on all the players out on loan.

But he obviously appreciates the keen interest in Young’s red-hot form since Mark Hughes encouraged him to go elsewhere to play.

Alexander said: “This is the game. There are different reasons why players do well at one club and not at another.

“It happens all the time. It might be the style of play, the formation, relationships with other players.

“I understand it can be frustrating. But you can only play 11 at one time so there are always going to be good players who miss out on regular game time.

“For us, it’s good to see players that belong to us going out and playing well and showing how good they are.

“It’s good we have options to bring them back and slip them into our squad if we see fit.”

Swindon are currently League Two’s leading scorers thanks to Young and sit four points above his parent club in eighth. The City man has netted in six consecutive games.

It is a remarkable transformation after being told by Hughes in pre-season that he was not in his plans and should look for a loan move.

Jake Young played just 45 minutes in pre-season against Avenue (Image: Thomas Gadd)

Young, who is under contract until the end of next season, played just 45 minutes in a friendly at Bradford (Park Avenue) and was not involved in the squad’s training camp in Spain.

He turned down two offers from the National League before Michael Flynn came in to take him to Swindon on the eve of the season.

Like Ryan East, who has been impressing in the fifth tier at Rochdale, Young has enjoyed the regular opportunities that were not on offer from their former Bantams boss.

But the door is now open for a potential return for the second half of the campaign.

Alexander added: “The whole thing about letting lads go out on loan is that clubs want them to play and develop their career and get game time. That’s why they go out and then you keep track.

“It’s good to see players enjoying their football and doing well. We’ve got some decisions to make in January.

“There’s plenty of time to get good wins under our belts and a good points tally and for players to either change their season round or continue what they’ve done in the first half of it.

Jake Young scoring for Swindon against Phil Parkinson's Wrexham (Image: PA)

“It’s exciting to think the amount of games we’ve got left and the potential we have with the squad – and potentially improving it in January if we can.

“Let’s look to the future with a little bit of hope.”

Flynn, who would love to keep Young at the County Ground, believes he possesses the ability to play at a higher level.

At the time of Hughes’ sacking, the former City skipper said: “I don’t think it changes anything because if he keeps scoring then we won’t have to worry about him going to Bradford, it will be League One or Championship clubs trying to buy him.”