New centre half Shane Duff can be City’s version of Tony Adams.

That is how Peter Taylor views the commanding defender, who yesterday became his sixth summer signing after a decade playing for Cheltenham.

Duff, 28, joined on a year’s deal with an option for the club to extend it into a second term – a precaution after two seasons blighted by injury.

Taylor believes the one-time Northern Ireland under-21 international can provide a vocal as well as physical presence at the back.

The City boss said: “He is a good talker. I just look at the situation with Steve Williams and Luke Oliver and neither of them have had enough league football.

“We’ve also got Zesh (Rehman) there of course but I always like to get two players for every position.

“Shane is what I would class a Tony Adams type. He is a good leader in the changing room.

“I’m not saying he will be captain but he is captain material and a good team should always have four or five of them.

“Clubs like Bradford should have more captains than anybody because you get tested more with the size of the crowd. You need more leaders with the experience to handle situations like that.”

Duff, whose older brother Michael plays for Burnley, missed six months of his testimonial year at Whaddon Road after Achilles surgery. He limped off during City’s amazing 5-4 win there last August.

After a lengthy rehabilitation, he did return to the fray for the closing stages of the campaign and played his part in keeping Cheltenham clear of the League Two drop zone.

Taylor said: “Unfortunately it’s been a very frustrating two years for Shane, mainly because of the Achilles problem. But he’s had that done properly and we’re very confident that’s fine.

“We are safeguarding ourselves with regards the contract but we don’t see that being a problem.

“He has given Cheltenham some tremendous service and been a very good player for them. But I think he sees the potential of the club here and this is a new challenge for him.”