Jones keeping up with Bradford City on promotion trail

The January recruit heads for Bury this weekend looking to continue a run that has seen him score in each of his last three away appearances.

Goals at Port Vale, Coventry and Scunthorpe have boosted the striker's confidence as he adapts to City's style of play.

He said: "It takes a little bit of settling in and you need a few games to get used to everything. I think in my first game I was still looking in the programme to see who everyone's name was!

"I came down for my medical on the Thursday, had one day's training and then I was starting on the Saturday. I'd not even been at the club 48 hours.

"But that's part and parcel of football and you have to get used to it. I know how it all works now and the way they like to play really suits me. I really enjoy playing passing football."

Injuries have also hindered Jones since he was signed from Birmingham for an undisclosed five-figure fee – but he believes he is now showing the form that earned him ten goals during the first half of the season with Vale.

Jones said: "I put pressure on myself to score every time I play. At the beginning I wasn't fully fit and fully sharp because of my injuries and stuff, which may or may not have affected me.

"I was itching to score but didn't seem to be getting any opportunities. Thankfully now I've got a few and hopefully I can continue that between now and the end of the season."

City's consistent form has been acknowledged with Stuart McCall's short-listing for League One manager of the month for March.

McCall, whose team picked up ten points from five games last month, is up against Valley Parade predecessor Phil Parkinson, Southend boss Phil Brown and Chris Wilder of leaders Sheffield United.

McCall watched relegation-threatened Bury hold Fleetwood 0-0 11 days ago and expects another tight encounter on Saturday.

The City manager said: "Bury are fighting for their lives but we'll go with a big support. The lads are buoyant after the Walsall result."