IT HAD been that long in coming that Kai Bruenker could not even recall his previous goal.

But he won’t forget the moment he finally got off the mark for City.

The low-key nature of a Checkatrade Trophy defeat to Oldham in front of Valley Parade’s third lowest crowd didn’t take the gloss off.

And having finally struck in his 17th appearance, the Bantams will now be hoping that can kick-start his scoring ambitions.

“To score was a special moment,” said Bruenker. “It brought the old feelings back, an amazing moment for me and I lost control a little bit after the goal.

“I had not scored since playing for Freiburg. I cannot remember when that was. A long time, though it was a nice goal - I score only nice goals!

“I was so, so happy. It showed I have not forgotten.

“I feel good and it’s like a weight has come off my shoulders.”

Bruenker previously hit the net on November 26 last year against Koblenz – his only effort since with City came in the reserves towards the end of the season.

The Valley Parade jury remains out on the big German who arrived on a minimal fee at the end of January.

A hard worker, he has struggled to cut it in the third tier – something he himself admits.

“Sometimes there are big bulldozers in defence and sometimes technical defenders who play more.

“I have a lot to learn. This was my second game from the start and the first (at Wimbledon) was difficult.

“This felt better. I knew when to go into the box and when to go for headers. That is experience.”

David Hopkin will hope to have Eoin Doyle back in contention for tomorrow’s short trip to Accrington. But Bruenker remains the only recognised target man in the squad.

He feels the way Hopkin has had the Bantams playing suits him far better than the more technical approach under Michael Collins at the start of the season.

Bruenker added: “I did not start too well. I didn’t come on as a sub in the first seven league games.

“David Hopkin came and he likes how I play. Now I see my chances as better because of the way the team wants to play.

“We have strong strikers, fast strikers, strikers who can run like Roadrunner. The gaffer then has to choose the formation.”

City head to Lancashire back in the bottom four but, like Hopkin, Bruenker was encouraged by how close they ran promotion favourites Sunderland. He is convinced that the hard work being put in under the new head coach will start to pay off.

“It is all about getting up the table,” he said. “We train hard every day.

“We have decent players. Jack Payne came from Huddersfield along with Sean Scannell.

“We have a lot of injuries but it is good Alex Jones is coming back along with Josh Wright. This gives us good, strong players back.

“We have big potential in this team. We will come up from the bottom.

“When you compare Sunderland to (how we played at) Southend, there is a big difference.

“Everyone is going into the tackles and everyone is giving everything. We were unlucky last Saturday.

“I know from my own experience, if you always work hard then this helps you.”