TONY McMahon has earned the reputation as City’s assist king.

So it’s fitting that he might have had a hand in convincing Josh Cullen to resist Championship overtures to stick at Valley Parade.

The West Ham youngster’s decision to extend his loan until the end of the season has been greeted as enthusiastically on the field as off it.

The rest of Stuart McCall’s squad were just as keen not to lose the midfield lynchpin as the fans.

McMahon was no different and used his powers of persuasion to further sweet-talk the Republic of Ireland under-21 international.

“We were well aware that Josh’s loan finished after the Northampton game and I was over the moon when I saw the news he’s extended it,” he said.

“You can see he’s enjoying his football and this is the perfect learning curve for him.

“I was asking him what was happening and he did mention there were a couple of Championship teams interested in taking him.

“But I said to him to stay here and play. He’s a young lad and I think this will do him the world of good.

“He’s in a good place. Everyone at the club has looked after him from the first day he came in and he’s playing well.

“Josh has probably been the stand-out player this season. He’s the first name on the team sheet each week –and rightly so because he has been brilliant.”

Cullen has become the Bantams comfort blanket. In 41 appearances since his debut 11 months ago, he has tasted defeat only seven times.

City average 1.9 points per game with him in the team – or 87 in total if worked out over a whole season. That’s promotion form.

McMahon said: “Somebody told me he only played 17 times last season, which really surprised me. I thought he’d been an ever-present.

“He’s a big part of what we’re all about and how we want to play.

“He trains properly and does everything right. He’s like an old pro but he’s only 20. It’s funny to see.

“He reminds me of Lee Cattermole when I was coming through (at Middlesbrough). Catts had a real old head and Josh is the same.”

Cullen is following well-trodden footsteps from the Hammers after the success of good pal Reece Burke, who swept the board for player-of-the-year awards from his season at Valley Parade.

The cultured centre half has now stepped up a level to the Championship with Wigan and McMahon expects Cullen to follow suit – but perhaps still with City.

“Hopefully Josh can come back to us again next year – and we’re a Championship club then. He’s easily good enough,” said McMahon.

“It’s credit to the club, the gaffer and the chairman to get the deal done to bring him back again this time.

“But Josh had such a good time last year. We still had a good core of that group and he knew what he was coming in to.

“The club have bent over backwards for him, with an apartment and stuff like that, and he’s repaying us with top performances.

“Look how well we treated Reece and he’s gone up to the Championship now.

“Josh could have easily done the same. But I’m sure he will go on to do that and then play at the very top – he’s that good.”

The first ten days of the January window have already seen plenty of activity at Valley Parade, with Cullen and Alex Jones’ capture off-set by the exits of Nathan Clarke, Marc McNulty and Haris Vuckic.

McCall plans to swell numbers with at least another striker and a winger to make sure City are not light going into the season’s home straight.

It is still a case of ‘suck it and see’ for EFL clubs in the first year without an emergency loan system. McMahon is not convinced whether the change has helped or not.

He said: “It’s hard for those not playing because they’ve now got to wait until the window. You can’t go out (on loan) for a month like before to get some games somewhere else.

“On the plus side, maybe some of the younger players might get more of a chance if you do get a few injuries.

“But there might be a lot riding on it when you need that experienced head but you can’t go and get them. It’s a case of six and two threes, in my opinion.

“You want to see young lads promoted to the team when they are ready – but ultimately it’s about winning and trying to gain promotion, which is what we are doing.”