SOMETIMES it just needs a cuddle.

That’s what Stuart McCall has found with winger Mark Marshall, the most rejuvenated member of City’s in-form team.

Player management can boil down to a “carrot and stick” mentality – and McCall believes the wide man just needed a friendly arm round the shoulder.

It has resulted in a string of impressive early displays with width and purpose from Marshall; not to mention one cracking goal against Coventry – his first for the club.

Saturday’s opening score at Millwall might have been run into his own net by home defender Byron Webster. But it was set up by Marshall’s driving run into the box and fierce shot.

And yet, he might well have been one who got away when McCall first arrived back at Valley Parade.

McCall walked into a situation where an unhappy player was looking for a way out halfway through his contract.

Marshall’s first season with City had been a tough one as he found himself on the periphery of Phil Parkinson’s plans. His agent had faxed the club asking if they would be prepared to let him go.

McCall’s initial reaction was “fair enough, if he doesn’t want to be here then move on.”

But having spoken to Marshall and listened to the reasons for his unhappiness, the new boss encouraged him to give it a go for a couple of weeks in pre-season.

McCall said: “I looked at what he had done in his career.

“I’d spoken to Steven Pressley who’d had him at Coventry and Robert Page at Northampton about his time with Port Vale.

“Pagey was desperate to take him again. Northampton were on to me every day.

“We went up to Gateshead and Marshy was still thinking that he might want to move on. After all he had a manager he knows who wanted him back.”

But McCall could see an asset for his own team and used the squad’s six days in Scotland that followed to convince Marshall of his value.

“I’m glad I said no to Northampton,” added the Bantams chief. “Marshy just wanted to feel wanted.

“Since we’ve been in – and we’ve spoken about this as a staff – he’s done everything we’ve asked of him. He’s been terrific.

“Wingers will be up and down and people used to point at Omar Daley and say ‘he doesn’t do this or that.’ But let’s look at the positives.

“At the moment you can’t say anything against Marsh. He tracks back, he works hard, he’s got a great ethic, he puts crosses in, he has shots at goal and he’s got a smile on his face when he plays.

“He talks a lot, gosh he talks a lot! But that’s his only negative.

“He’s done great and long may that continue.”

Marshall’s start against former club Vale on opening day was his first since the end of January. But with Filipe Morais still getting over a few niggles, he has nailed down that spot since then.

But the experience of last term has taught him not to take his place for granted.

Marshall said: “Every time I go out on that pitch, I try to be the best because I know that there is someone trying to get my shirt.

“Ultimately I want to play. I’ve got to do everything I can, whether that’s running further or drinking more water to go longer than someone else.

“Every time I go in the changing room, I look myself in the mirror and ask myself ‘what am I going to give today?’

“I want to feel like I’m fitter and stronger than the opponent I’m going to play against. If you don’t prepare right, you’re not going to feel like that.

“I don’t want to be doing running after the game (with the substitutes), I want to play. I want to express myself and do my best to keep preparing right and hopefully it will go well.”

Marshall’s form – which could put him in the mix for League One’s player of the month accolade for August – has been even more welcome considering the number of absentees.

There is light at the end of the tunnel now with reinforcements coming back as well as a break from the run of midweek games.

Marshall added: “It’s been frantic and almost the same team since pre-season. A few people have been injured but we’ve worked hard and deserve to be where we are.

“We’ll keep going and hopefully the results will keep coming.”