ALEX Gilliead says he 'loved every minute' at City after returning to Newcastle United.

The winger is one of clutch of loanees who have returned to their parent clubs but was linked with a permanent move to the Bantams earlier in the campaign.

The youngster is under contract for another season at St James' Park but it is thought the Premier League-bound Magpies might look to offload him, either on loan again or for a fee on a permanent basis.

City would potentially face Championship level competition for his signature, with Barnsley having also been linked with the player.

Gilliead, who was an unused sub at Wembley in the defeat to Millwall, tweeted: "Gutted to have ended the season like that in the final, the boys gave everything but it wasn't meant to be.

"On a personal note I have loved every minute of my time with Bradford City and would like to thank everyone at the club and all the fans for making it such an amazing experience."

Gilliead, who at age 21 would fit the mould of player City's hierarchy are keen to invest in, made five starts and five substitute appearances after joining the Bantams in the new year but his game time was curtailed due to a torn hamstring against Coventry.

However, he remained with City to work on his rehabilitation, rather than return to his parent club, and regained his fitness in time to come on as a substitute in the second leg of the play-off semi-final at Fleetwood.

Josh Cullen, Kevin Toner, Matthew Penney and Jordy Hiwula are the other City loanees to have returned to their clubs, while out-of-contract players Stephen Darby, Joe Cracknell and James King have been released.