CITY are banking on Rumarn Burrell’s “nuisance value” to make an impact on the rest of their season.

The 20-year-old Middlesbrough striker last night joined on loan as the Bantams moved quickly to replace Austin Samuels.

Burrell, who made his Boro debut last week in the FA Cup at Brentford, brings speed and athleticism.

And Mark Trueman and Conor Sellars know from experience that City’s fourth signing of the window can be a “real nuisance”.

Joint-interim boss Sellars said: “We saw Rumarn quite a lot in our Youth Alliance time with the under-18s playing for Grimsby.

“He used to cause us so many problems. He was so quick, so athletic, he had a real leap in the air and was a total nuisance.

“He pressed the back four, never mind just the centre halves. He was a real worker.

“The thing we like most is that he’s so willing. He’s a real handful and somebody that’s going to hopefully help the team by giving us a different outlet.

“I’ve spoken to him and told him his opportunity is there and he’s got to go and grab it.

“With the pedigree he’s got and the experiences he’s had as a young player, he’s got to come in and make an impact.”

City had enquired about Ryan Edmondson from Leeds but he has joined Northampton after indicating he wanted to play in League One.

But Burrell, who made four appearances for Grimsby before joining Boro for a six-figure fee in the summer of 2019, was another young striker that the management duo have been pursuing.

Sellars added: “He was somebody on our shortlist not only from playing against him but monitoring his career since he left Grimsby as well.

“We saw his potential as a 16 and 17-year-old so that’s a few years ago. Grimsby and Middlesbrough both develop players, so I’m sure that he is a lot better than he was even then.

“The best thing for young players in the 23s and training with the first team is to be playing and gaining experience.

“When Middlesbrough saw our interest, I think they realised it was going to be very good for Rumarn to play League Two football and learn from the experienced strikers that we have.”

Burrell managed to get through the snow to sign yesterday in time for the Crawley game – providing City can beat the wintry snap and keep Valley Parade playable for their first action of 2021.

Teenage defender Finn Cousin-Dawson will also be keen to maintain his run in the side after penning an improved, long-term contract until 2024.

Sellars said: “We’ve worked with Finn for quite a number of years now.

“We’ve had ups and downs with him and got a really good relationship with his family. He’s got a fantastic attitude.

“He used to stay at the Woodhouse Grove School last year in digs because he lived a little bit too far to travel in every day.

“He was in the gym every night and be out on the 4G pitch practising his game when nobody was on. He epitomised everything we wanted in a young player with his attitude and commitment.

“Fair play to Finn playing week in, week out in League Two at 18 and he deserves a new contract.”