TEAM “joker” Tony McMahon is deadly serious about City’s promotion ambitions, insists Stuart McCall.

The extrovert right back clocked up his 100th appearance for the club in Saturday’s win over Doncaster, claiming a fifth assist of the season when Nathaniel Knight-Percival scored from his corner.

McMahon is a big presence in the squad with his out-going personality and is always game for a laugh.

But McCall knows that the in-form defender is also one of the most committed players at Valley Parade.

The City chief said: “Everyone sees Tony as the joker in the pack. If you read the programme, every week a different player picks him out.

“He’s a bubbly character but he also cares about his football a lot. He’s very passionate about it and wants to do the right things.

“Reaching 100 games is a good landmark for this fantastic club.

“Tony probably had a mixed bag on Saturday but he did some things well.

“When we’ve got the four we’ve got, Knight-Percival, (Matt) Kilgallon, (Romain) Vincelot and Charlie Wyke getting on the end of terrific deliveries, we’ve always got half a chance from set-plays to score.”

Winger Alex Gilliead is enjoying partnering McMahon on City’s right flank, even if it means he regularly gets an earful.

Gilliead said: “He keeps saying that he’s going to put in a few more free-kicks like he did against Northampton.

“But he’s a good player and a great pro to have behind me. He’s had a good career and played hundreds of games.

“We’ve played a few games together now and we know what each other’s going to do.

“I know he likes to get forward so sometimes I go inside and vice versa.

“It’s good to have someone experienced like that to learn from.”

City’s fringe players will travel to Carrington today to face Manchester United in a behind-closed-doors game at their training ground.

But Paul Taylor will not be among them after making his first league start at the weekend.

McCall added: “He’s probably one that’s not had a go and his performance in training over the last ten days had been good.

“I thought he came on (in the Fleetwood game) last week and gave us a spark. I wanted to play four up against Doncaster.

“He was bright in some things and maybe a little bit casual and sloppy in others but that is Tayls. He deserved his chance and we were quite happy with him.

“The closed-doors game at Man United will be good for the lads who’ve not played a lot of football.

“Then we’ve got to look to another tough game at MK Dons, who had a good win away on Saturday and are going well. But hopefully we can go there and keep our unbeaten away form going.”