THERE was not much to be gleaned from City’s pre-season friendly at Bradford (Park Avenue).

A mix-and-match side had eventually triumphed on penalties to settle a low-key contest.

But Gary Bowyer was buoyant at the quality of Connor Wood’s crossing – if not quite so at the lack of end product that came from it.

Wood’s supply line from City’s left flank has continued to be a feature in the opening weeks of the campaign, whether it’s from a midfield start or full back.

It was his early ball that created the first of the three goals against Oldham at Valley Parade – and his corner that Stevenage captain Tom Soares bizarrely hammered into his own net a week ago.

Even in Saturday’s frustrating setback against Forest Green, Wood was still trying to push up from defence to offer some ammo for James Vaughan and Clayton Donaldson.

“I’ve spoken to the gaffer and said my best attribute is crossing and delivering into the box,” he said.

“If I can get further up the pitch more often, I think you’re playing to the best of my ability and giving me the best chance to help out the team.

“When you’ve got Vaughan and Donaldson up front, they’ll be having a field day if I keep putting balls in like I have been.

“I’m an attacking left back as well so I’ll always be getting involved and getting forward. Obviously not as often as I would from left mid but I’ll still be trying to be up there for a lot of attacks and get crosses in.

“Wherever I’m called upon, I’ll still do everything I can to get up there and put balls in the box for the lads.”

For Wood, having targets to pick out with the pedigree of City’s front two makes the job more straight forward. He is also grateful for the huge experience the pair have brought to the squad.

“It’s massive for all of us, especially the younger lads.

“They are always there to put an arm round you, have a chat and give you a bit of guidance. I think that’s important to have in a team.

“Everyone is benefitting from having quality like that around. You can see on matchdays, the work rate they are putting in, defending from the front, scoring for us, chasing down every ball at the top.

“When you’ve got two strikers with the ability they have, you just have to hit an area and you know one of them is going to be on the end of it.

“It makes my job a lot easier – and I hope with the quality I’ve been putting in, that makes it easier for them as well.

“You don’t even need to think about looking up to see where they are. You just put your head down and stick the ball in there and they’ll be there.”

That support network of the senior heads looking out for the younger ones is something Wood could have done with more last season. As a first taste of the senior game, relegation was a brutal learning curve for someone thrown straight in the deep end after the comfort of Leicester's academy.

He admitted: “It was a very strange season to come into. It did take time to adapt.

“I’d gone from under-23s football where you are looked after a lot and protected, to the men’s game where it is ruthless.

“It was probably one of the most ruthless seasons that I will ever experience.

“But having a first year like that will benefit me in the long run, more than it would have if we’d had a better season.

“We were at the lowest point you probably can be as a team but what I’ve taken away from that is massive.

“I know what I need to work on, not just physically on the pitch but mentally as well.

“The relegation did hurt everyone but you’ve got to put it to one side as soon as you get to summer.

"Get your head screwed on about this season and wanting to get back up straight away.”

After three different managers in his first year, Wood is also reaping the benefits of hopefully having the same one in long-term charge now.

“The changes he’s made around the training ground have been massive," he added.

“It has had a huge impact on the team. The stuff he had us doing in pre-season brought us together straight away and formed a close bond between everyone.

“We’ve gone into the season confident and we’re ready to work our socks off for each other week in, week out.”