Forsyth relishing chance to play cards right with Bradford City (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Craig Forsyth relishing chance to play cards right with Bradford City

8:00am Friday 26th October 2012 in Sport By Simon Parker, Bradford City Reporter

Craig Forsyth sniggers at the predictable suggestion that his nickname in the dressing room should be “Brucie”.

But he knows that a few good games are needed to get Watford thinking “didn’t he do well” from his loan spell up north.

And if the winger plays his cards right, the next two months could get him back in the pack – if not at Vicarage Road, then somewhere else. Dare we say, a right “Brucie bonus”...

Forsyth said: “There was a joke cracked about ‘nice to see you, to see you nice’ when I first got here! But the boys are all right and have not given me any stick yet.

“I do need to get my name out there again. Nobody takes any notice when you’re sitting on the sidelines at Watford.

“That’s why I was so keen to get out on loan. If you’re doing well, people will sit up and take notice.”

The left winger has suffered in the explosion of overseas arrivals at the Championship club which followed the summer takeover by the Italian Pozzi family.

Forsyth was the first signing for previous boss Sean Dyche but found himself sliding down the pecking order once Gianfranco Zola was installed. He still has another 18 months on his contract.

He said: “The size of the squad is massive, it’s something like 42 players. A few have gone on loan now but it’s still big.

“I realised pretty early on that my chances were going to be very limited as more players started to arrive.

“You want to play on a Saturday and when that’s not happening, you do get frustrated going in every week.

“That’s the mental side of football and you’ve got to keep your discipline and go about it the right way. You still have to try and impress and make the manager think about things.

“But of course it can be very difficult at times.

“Going on loan was suggested but it’s taken a while for things to get going. Because I’ve not been playing, people haven’t had the chance to see me.

“So when this came up with Bradford, I gladly accepted it. I had a look at the club and the attendances caught my eye – they are on a par with some of the teams in the Championship.”

Forsyth’s performance at Northampton on Tuesday showed he is settling in quickly. As his match fitness picks up, he looks to be a useful addition to City’s left side.

And Forsyth would have had a first goal but for a desperate block from Northampton skipper Kelvin Langmead. City recall the two he struck against them in the FA Cup last season and the 23-year-old is confident he can contribute.

He said: “A few people have mentioned that game round the club, especially the second goal.

“Goals are definitely something I think I can bring to the team as well. Every team at the top of the league have got midfielders who can chip in so hopefully I can do that.

“It wasn’t a big thing for me to drop down the divisions to come to Bradford. I just want to play football again.

“I haven’t really been involved for the last six months. This is a good chance to do well for the club and myself.”