JAMES Hanson is loving the chance to work for Stuart McCall again and revealed: “He hasn’t changed a bit.”

Hanson was signed by McCall from Guiseley in 2009 and is the only survivor from his first managerial spell at City.

The big striker, now third in the list of the club’s all-time leading scorers, believes his former boss will bring the best out of his game.

Hanson said: “Personally I was gutted to see the old gaffer go. But if you could pick one person who I enjoyed working with before and wouldn’t mind again then it would be Stuart.

“He’s not really changed one bit. As far as his management’s concerned, all the lads have really taken to him.

“He’ll probably the first to admit that last time didn’t work out how he wanted. But at the same time, that was his first manager’s job and he’s gained a lot of experience since then.

“You can tell from the stuff on training ground. He’s working a bit differently from before but it’s still the same person.

“The lads are really enjoying it and looking forward to the season ahead.

“We’re all trying to work hard together and hopefully get that promotion and progress again.”

Hanson aims to join in fully with the rest of the squad at Apperley Bridge today as McCall pencils him in for some involvement in Saturday’s final friendly against Carlisle at Valley Parade.

The targetman has not featured since the Gateshead game after tweaking a muscle in his groin while making an air-shot in training in Scotland.

McCall has already instructed his wingers to put more supply into the penalty area this season – music to Hanson’s ears.

He added: “His style will suit me down to the ground because he wants the wingers to get on the ball, pass it and get crosses in the box.

“I probably should have had a couple of goals already in pre-season. But I’ll keep practising and I’m sure they will come.

“To be honest, I’ve not done a lot of heading. We’ve been doing a lot more finishing.

“At this stage it’s all about sharpening up and getting your timing back again.”

Hanson is keen to move on from the frustration of sitting out City’s two play-off clashes with Millwall in May after tearing his calf. He admitted it was tough to watch as their promotion hopes were dashed.

“It was massively difficult for me,” he said. “I originally thought it was just a kick and trained right through the next week with a tight calf.

“I played at Southend and then it just shut down from there. I found a haematoma in there as well as a tear.

“It was gutting to see the lads beaten and not being able to do anything about it. It was probably only the first half of the first leg when Millwall were better.

“But we’ve just got to use that disappointment and try to go one better this year.

“There are a good five or six of us in the starting XI who know what’s required to put on a Bradford shirt. We know what the fans expect.

“We’ve been through it the past couple of years in League One and we’re established players at this level. Hopefully we can use that experience with the new additions to try and push to that extra level.”

Meanwhile, City have been drawn in a group with Bury, Morecambe and Stoke’s academy in the revamped EFL Trophy.

City will host Stoke under-23s on August 30 and Bury in October before travelling to Morecambe in November.