NICKY Law dreads opening the City programme every week because he knows the stick is coming.

Only one player is going to appear when team-mates are asked about the “teacher’s pet” in the dressing room.

“There’s my name and picture underneath it,” he laughed, “It’s always there.

“All the lads are on it. People refer to me as the Paddy Kenny to Neil Warnock because it’s the same – he took him everywhere.

“But a lot of managers take players with them to different clubs. Look at Harry Redknapp with (Peter) Crouch and (Niko) Kranjcar.

“When the manager got the job, I had a few tweets from Bradford fans saying they expected me to be coming. Of course I knew that there was a possibility of that so I had a little chuckle.

“But I love working for him and hopefully he’ll feel I’ve done well for him as well. I hope I’ve repaid his faith and will keep doing so.”

This is the fifth different spell in his career when Law has played for McCall. It was no surprise that the midfielder was the first signing of the manager’s second coming in the Valley Parade hot-seat.

After a bond going back ten years, Law is well-qualified to judge any changes in his boss between then and now.

McCall has gained plenty of managerial experience in that time – but has never changed as a person. And Law feels that is one of his biggest strengths.

He said: “The manager is still the same person, always bright and bubbly and joking around.

“The lads know not to take the mickey but he has this knack of keeping people happy.

“That’s the case even when you’re not playing and that’s a big thing for a manager.

“He is such a likeable character that you can’t get annoyed. I don’t know anyone who’ve said they didn’t get on with him.”

It is often one of the trickiest aspects at a club to maintain harmony within the group of those not directly involved every week.

Law admits some bosses can completely cut off communication with players not in the team, even more so the injured. That is where McCall’s man-management stands out.

“I’ve had experience of managers who don’t care too much if you’re not playing,” added Law. “It’s like you don’t matter because you’re not in the team.

“It’s the same with injured players. Obviously if you’re out and can’t play, then you’re no use to the manager – and some won’t even speak to the injured lads.

“But the gaffer is different. If you’re injured, he’s down in the physio room checking how you are and happy to have a chat.

“That’s a big thing for a player because it’s a lonely place when you’re injured.

“Think of the long-term lads like young Reece (Webb-Foster), who’s been in there for months, but he sees the manager and knows that he cares.

“He’s brilliant at keeping everyone involved as much as they can be.

“He uses the squad and will change things so people do get 90 minutes. We’ve got some Tuesday games coming up now so I’m sure that will happen again.

“It’s not just the manager but Kenny (Black) as well. I worked with him at Motherwell and he’s another great guy that the lads respond to.

“The two of them work well together and it’s good that you’re comfortable with them and know how they want the team to play.”