CITY want to put in a performance that Stephen Darby would be proud of at Doncaster tomorrow.

The Bantams head for the Keepmoat Stadium for their first game since the devastating news broke that Darby is suffering from motor neurone disease.

Fans and former team-mates are still in shock for the player who was such a cornerstone of the club’s recent success.

And City striker Eoin Doyle insists it will provide extra incentive to snap the losing run that has dumped them in the bottom four.

He said: “It is an awful, tragic thing that he and his family are going through. Bally (David Ball) played with him, while Nat (Knight-Percival) was here at the same time.

“Then there is obviously the medical staff, who were all very close to him. You can see it has affected people.

“I live in Liverpool so I have a lot of friends who are very close to him. I only ever heard good things about his character and the type of lad he is.

“It has hit everyone hard and it’s the same at every club he has played for. You can see that on social media, everyone saying their piece.

“I can’t stop thinking about it and I am not even close.

“We definitely go into the game with him on our minds. It would be nice to get the three points.”

Away fans plan to pay tribute at Doncaster to the defender, who made 239 appearances in five years with City.

Doyle added: “The size and the stature of the club is obvious from the outside. But now it has come together as Darbs goes through his tough time.

“He deserves that. He was here for a long time.

“He should be coming into his prime years now. It is a horrible, horrible disease, one of the worst things out there.

“I hear he is mentally a very strong lad. That will help him massively.

“Us, as players, are here for him. Whatever he needs. We will jump to it.

“We are due a performance anyway but this is an extra little kick for us.”

England women’s captain Steph Houghton, who married Darby in the summer, said they have been “overwhelmed” by the depth of support for him. He has asked for some privacy at this time.

City have said they will help him in any way in the future.

Head coach David Hopkin said: “When Stephen feels he’s ready, whether he wants to come in to training or to games, we’ll do anything we can to help as a club. He’ll always be welcome.

“It’s a shame for such a young man to get something like that in his life.

“When the news broke, I think everybody was taken aback by it, the staff and players.

“For such a fit young man to get something like this is devastating.

“Everybody spoke very highly of him and that tells you everything in football.

“I didn’t know him personally but looking at those who did it hit home what had happened. It’s a tragic thing.

“I think at this moment in time he just wants some privacy. We’ve got to respect that as a club and give him his space.

“I’m sure Edin (Rahic), Stefan (Rupp) and everyone at the club will do what we can.”