Jamie Walker: Bradford City must help Andy Cook with goals

The mercurial Cook currently tops the chart in League Two with nine – and has 11 in all competitions.

His teammates have contributed 12 between them in the league and Walker says they need to pull their weight and provide more.

"Andy's our number nine and his goalscoring record speaks for itself,” he said.

“It's pretty incredible, to be honest. I don't know how he does it sometimes.

"But I think there needs to be more emphasis on other players.

Andy Cook has scored 11 goals in all competitions this season (Image: Tom Pearson)

"Last season I scored nine goals and I had an injury as well.

"It's something we're working on. The wing-backs and the midfielders have got to contribute if we want to sustain something good this season.”

Walker has scored just one so far in the televised win over Newport last month.

The Scot insists his own performance level must buck up to get back among the goals again.

"I used to set myself double figures,” added Walker, who clocked up his 100th City game last week.

“It was tough at the start of this season when I wasn't playing.

“I got into the team, got a couple of assists, got a goal against Newport and I wanted to kick on from there.

"The last few games I'm quite realistic in my performances and they've probably not been where they should be or where I expect to be.

“But I just need to try and ride the waves and keep working hard as I always do to find a little bit of form again.”

Walker showed that bite in his play again during City’s last outing against Rotherham in the EFL Trophy. His role as one of the number eights with Bobby Pointon is key in putting pressure on opponents to win the ball back quickly.

Boss Graham Alexander said: “Jamie’s a guy who gets better with regular football.

“When he came back from that injury last season, he knows himself his first three or four games weren’t very good. But you saw how he finished the season.

“I think he’s one of the best at smelling when the right opportunity is there to go and turn the ball over.

“We’re one of the best in the division at having opportunities to score off presses.

“Jamie’s one of those lads who can do it really well and I think he enjoys it.”

Graham Alexander has Jamie Walker playing in a different role (Image: Thomas Gadd)

Walker has had to adapt his game for the way Alexander wants City to play, doing more defensive work than was asked of him operating further forward.

But the experienced Scot is relishing the different role.

"I've always thought I could play there. I deal with the ball quite well but I'm not the quickest player so I know I can't really run past opponents.

“Being that bit more inside and playing one-twos, getting in touch with the striker, I always thought I could do it.

"I love playing under the manager. The way he wants to do things I think suits the football club really well - hard work, the morals he has.

"Hopefully we can do things a little bit better on the pitch as a team and personally and we can go on a run.

"We're in a decent position in the table and I think if we can go on another good run we can hopefully build something.”