Jon Worthington believes his experience can be a key weapon in City’s frantic fight to rescue their season.

The former Huddersfield battler this morning signed until May after Oldham agreed to release him from his contract.

Worthington made his first appearance at Crewe on Tuesday as Peter Taylor’s toiling troops suffered a fourth loss on the bounce.

The 18th-placed Bantams now sit just five points above the drop zone, with Taylor admitting that they must focus on avoiding relegation.

It is a hugely worrying time for the club and in particular the younger players in the team, who are seeing football’s unforgiving side for the first time. That’s where Worthington hopes he can make a difference.

He said: “There are a lot of young players here and sometimes you need a few experienced heads to help them when things get difficult.

“That’s something I’d like to think I can help with. For some of the lads this will be a first but I’ve been in that sort of position before and know what it takes.

“You’ve got to keep telling the players that they have still got the talent. But you’ve got to keep the spirits up.

“They’ll be wondering how to change things but, along with the manager, it’s about keeping focused and trying to make sure that everyone stays confident for the next game.”

Worthington’s 55-minute outing at Gresty Road was his first in the league this season. His last start was nine months ago for Oldham in a goalless draw at Southampton.

The defeat aside, the 27-year-old from Birkenshaw relished being back in the thick of it. He said: “We’re in a results business and we’d like to have got one, especially when they went down to ten men. So it was disappointing to get beaten.”

“But on a personal point of view, I’m delighted to be here.

“You can’t kid yourself, it was tough out there in my first game back. But I’m quite a fit lad so give me a couple of games and I’ll be straight back in the swing of it.

“It’s been a frustrating time since my move to Oldham. I suffered a bad injury last season and then there was the change of manager this year.

“I’ve been desperate to get back playing again. When I got the call from Bradford, I jumped at the chance.

“There have been a couple of times over the past few years when there was a chance I might have come here. Luckily that’s come now and I’ll give it my all.”

City’s next outing is a daunting trip to leaders Chesterfield on Saturday. The Spireites boast League Two’s best home record with ten wins at their new b2net Stadium.

Worthington added: “They are flying, especially at home, and we know how tough it will be. But I’ve seen some encouraging signs.

“We’ve got to stop this run somewhere and there is no better game to go and get something. That’s the kind of attitude we’ll be taking into it.”