JAKE Young has lifted the lid on his Valley Parade frustration as City eye a potential return for the League Two top gun next month.

Graham Alexander has hinted that they will take up the release clause in the 22-year-old’s season-long loan deal with Swindon to bring him back in the transfer window.

Young has scored 16 goals this season – topping the charts in the fourth tier – and is on a hot run of seven from his last six outings.

Young, who is under contract at City until 2025, has spoken out about being frozen out by former Bantams boss Mark Hughes.

“It was mainly one man’s opinion and that’s fine, that’s football,” he told the PA news agency.

“My view was he’s got me there, give me an opportunity to improve. That’s all I was looking for.

“I wasn’t looking to play every minute but when I’d been on the pitch I’d shown I could affect games to at least be an option off the bench.

“I just wanted to learn and improve and I didn’t really think I got the opportunity but football’s about opinions.”

Young scored four goals at the start of his first season with City following a move from Forest Green for an undisclosed fee.

But the former Guiseley striker found himself out of favour from last October onwards.

He was sent on loan to Barrow for the second half of the season, where he struggled to make an impression, and was then told by Hughes that he was not in the plans for the current campaign.

Young was left at home when the squad went to Spain in pre-season and played just 45 minutes in a friendly at Bradford (Park Avenue). Having turned down two non-league loans, he was snapped up by Swindon.

Young added: “I was 21 and to be deemed not good enough three months into a four-year deal was tough, especially when it’s somewhere I wanted to be.

“It’s something you’ve always wanted to do and when you find yourself not enjoying it anymore that’s the hardest part.

“It’s something I’ve learned from and I won’t take these spells I’m in now for granted because I know how hard I’ve worked physically and mentally to get here.

 

 

“It’s not necessarily about proving people wrong but more proving myself right that I belong at this level and higher. This is the player I know I am.”

Young is currently the top league scorer than England – even outgunning Manchester City machine Erling Haaland who is two behind on 14.

“It’s not something I think about on the pitch but when I get off and I’ve scored another one I’ll have a little look,” he said. “I’m sure Haaland isn’t looking if I’ve scored for Swindon though.

“I normally look at the League Two ones first but since Haaland’s been mentioned I’ve had 10 to 20 people sending me screenshots (of the goal table).

“I think there was something on Twitter the other day and I had a lot of people sending me that one – but it’s not counting my Champions League goals!

“It’s nice but for me it’s not a shock. I know I’m capable of this. It’s definitely something I feel like I’ve worked for.

“Without trying to sound arrogant, I know I can score and play at this level. I’ve just wanted the opportunity to prove it.”

Young is clearly enjoying his football with Michael Flynn's Robins and told our sister paper, the Swindon Advertiser, that he would happily stay on.

But he knows the decision will be down to his parent club.

Young added: “I am loving it here, obviously I am having the best season of my career to date, so there is no reason that I would want to leave. 

“Obviously, like I said at the start of the season, it is not necessarily up to me, and we will see what comes. 

“I am loving it here and I am a Swindon player until I am told otherwise and that is what I am sticking with.”