PHIL Parkinson admits Devante Cole is an “exciting project” for City as he tried to play down the hype after his dramatic debut.

Cole made an instant name for himself at Valley Parade with the last-gasp winner against Port Vale to clinch a first victory of the season.

Andrew Cole’s 20-year-old son did something his dad never managed at his 13 clubs by scoring in his first appearance.

Parkinson will not put too much pressure on the young striker but sees plenty of potential there.

He said: “Devante is a young, athletic player and someone to work with. What I like about him is that I feel he has got that hunger in him to prove himself.

“We spoke to the chairmen in the summer about getting a couple of players in the building who are assets and we can make them into something.

“Devante’s something different and there’s an unpredictability about his play.

“I don’t want to get too carried away but he’s a real project for us and let’s hope he does well.”

Midfielder Gary Liddle is hoping that Cole junior can turn out to be a chip off the old block. He sees the signing as potentially a real coup for the Bantams.

He said: “Hopefully that goal will be the first of many for Bradford City. I’m sure he will do well for us.

“He’s obviously had a fantastic upbringing. If he’s anything like his dad, he’ll be perfect.

“Sometimes young players come from Premier League clubs and League One catches them cold a little bit.

“But Devante has that experience under his belt from last season and knows exactly what he’s coming in to.

“For Bradford City to be able to attract a player like that from such a big club as Manchester City is terrific.

“It’s a great opportunity for Devante and hopefully we’re just the next stage in his development. If he moves on to another club in the future, that means he’ll have done very well for us.”

Liddle admitted that getting a first win has come as a relief to everyone after an unconvincing start to the campaign. The three points lifted City six places in the early League One table.

He added: “We had a tough time of conceding late goals last season and blew a lot of points at home.

“We’ve said that if we are going to do anything this season, we’ve got to make this place a fortress. To get that first win will hopefully set us on our way now.

“You’ve seen what the club have done in selling so many season-tickets and you want to do well for the fans. So it was great to give them that win in the last minute.

“The celebrations reminded me a lot of Chelsea with how loud they were.”

Greg Leigh, another former Man City prospect, has been promised a run in the squad after Parkinson confirmed that Alan Sheehan is on his way out.

Left back Leigh took Sheehan’s place on the bench on Saturday and Parkinson said: “We’re going to let Alan go. We feel the time’s right.

“I want to use Greg to push Mezza (James Meredith) for that place. We’ve brought him in and feel it’s a bit like with Devante, he’s another powerful, athletic player.”