DAVID Hopkin has reminded City to keep their focus during the distraction of the January transfer window.

The Bantams boss has highlighted the upcoming run of games, starting against Southend at Valley Parade this afternoon, as a key period in the battle for League One safety.

City face seven games against teams from mid-table downwards over the next six weeks, four of them at home, and Hopkin insists minds must be on the job.

He said: “January is a window when you’ve got a lot of players in the squad who maybe have their thoughts on different things.

“Agents maybe say different things to them. It’s an important month and you have to make sure you stay focused.

“As a player, if you can stay focused throughout January, you can probably stay focused through anything.

“You can get your heads turned. People make things a wee bit harder for players by saying that somebody might have been interested in them through the summer and are trying to get them in January.

“You’ve got to be professional. I spoke to the players about it on Thursday morning.

“We have to stay focused because it’s a massive month for us. We’ve got to try to win as many games as we can in January.

“You must stay focused on Bradford, make sure you do your job. The teams who kick on in January are going to be the ones who can put everything to the backburner and just continue with the football.”

Jermaine Anderson could make his City debut today after the midfielder became their second signing. Hopkin is keen to add more in the remaining 12 days of the window as well as shifting the fringe players no longer in his plans.

It is a very different transfer window than he experienced this time last year in Scotland.

Hopkin added: “It’s a smaller market up there but the difference I had at Livingston was having a good squad of players that I’d had for two years.

“Last January wasn’t too bad. We got a couple in and a couple out.

“Where we were in the league, a lot of people just wanted to stay to the end of the season because they knew we had a chance of going to play Premier League football. The mentality was fantastic.

“It’s a busy month but that’s the joys of management.

“The last two weeks I’ve been on the mobile constantly with myself and Julian (Rhodes) trying to get deals done.

“But it’s making sure the deals are right for both parties.

“We will get some deals done. Now the window is starting to heat up a wee bit.

“You’re getting a lot more phone calls. Players that you’re being offered now have maybe played at a higher level and they are all looking for clubs.

“I’m sure that will continue until the very last day.”