YORKSHIRE life is proving "reet grand" for Reece Burke, says his senior central-defensive side-kick Rory McArdle.

City's player of the year has been impressed with how quickly the 19-year-old West Ham loanee has settled in away from his native East End.

McArdle said: "I remember when I was his age, walking into the dressing room and wondering what to expect. But I was at Rochdale with Steve Parkin in charge and could go home every day.

"Reece is here on his own, although his mum and dad have been up for most games. But he's completely out of his comfort zone.

"He came in at Barnsley and had only been with us two days. It was probably the first time he'd stayed away from home.

"Coming up north, as he likes to say, must have been quite daunting – but the performances he has put in have been great and he's set a high standard."

City this week extended Burke's youth loan by another month and Phil Parkinson would love to keep him as long as possible.

The highly-rated teenager is yet to finish on a losing side in five appearances and while he made his debut last season in the Premier League, McArdle reckons he can learn plenty from his Valley Parade experience.

He said: "It's completely different at this level because of the physical side. Fleetwood away the other week was typical; it was windy, they had two big lads up top and went a bit direct, but Reece coped really well.

"I asked him what it's like when he's been away with England (under-20s) and basically they don't have much to do at the back, giving the ball to the rest of the lads and letting them get on with it.

"There's a reason why West Ham might have looked at it and decided playing here ticks a few boxes. It rounds his education.

"It's a whole different ball game. As daft as it sounds, this is men's football.

"You can play as much in the academy as you want but it's a whole new experience when you go into a competitive league game with real points at stake and fans baying for opposition blood.

"A lot of Premier boys who go to lower leagues are probably quite surprised about what they have to do for themselves.

"It's the little things, like looking after their own boots or going for lunch and finding out you haven't got four different choices of meals.

"If I was giving a young lad advice, I'd say definitely go out on loan because it's great experience.

"If and when Reece goes back to West Ham, and hopefully he'll progress there, then he might look back on his time at Bradford and make sure he appreciates what he's got."

Burke's down-to-earth attitude has also fitted in well and he's much quieter around the place than Andrew Davies – something McArdle does not mind.

"At least you're safe when Reece is around," he laughed. "You can leave your washbag open knowing that it's not going to get absolutely rinsed!

"But if you were sitting in our dressing room and asked who was on loan from West Ham, it could be anybody. He doesn't talk any differently to the lads just because he's from a Premier League club.

"Mind you, if somebody did come in a bit big time, they'd soon get told.

"You can see Reece is growing game by game and he's enjoying playing regularly. But he's already moaning that it's cold. He keeps saying he's dreading a winter up north – but he hasn't seen anything yet!"