ANDY Cook loves the adulation he gets from City fans – and deserves it all.

The striker is enjoying a superb start to the season as he tops the League Two scoring charts.

Cook has also moved into the City all-time top five for goals as he moves towards legendary status with supporters.

On the eve of the number nine’s 34th birthday tomorrow, Graham Alexander has applauded the way he handles that hype.

“I think he loves it and he’s earned it,” said the Bantams boss.

“I don’t think there’s any player that doesn’t like a pat on the back from everybody – his teammates, his manager, his wife. The bosses, the supporters are all there.

“He doesn’t strut around the place likes he’s top dog. He’s very humble in his approach to things and to his work.”

Cook insists that his priority remains winning promotion with City – the constant target since he first arrived at Valley Parade on loan from Mansfield in January 2021.

Alexander added: “Cooky understands the importance of the team. He’s quite well aware that he can’t do it on his own, which is good.

“He doesn’t think he’s the finished article and believes he can still improve.

“For me, he’s a great professional on that side of it. Sometimes players can get carried away with a little bit of adulation and sometimes they can get adulation on not much.

“But that’s certainly not the case with Cooky. Look at his numbers and they are unbelievable and he deserves every bit of credit he gets.

“But I know it will hurt him if we’re not successful.

“The challenge for us all and for Cooky is to make sure we’re successful. It’s great scoring those goals but they’ve got to mean something.

“I think he’s determined to try and do that with us.”