CITY aim to be "clever" with the loan market next season as Mark Hughes plots Premier League back-up for his promotion push.

Hughes will look to utilise his wealth of top-flight contacts to find young talent willing to take the plunge at Valley Parade.

The Bantams chief is happy to pursue the short-term route as much as other League Two rivals.

And the club will be hoping that he can potentially steal a march because of his extensive top-flight background.

“I think you’ve got to tap into the loan market,” said Hughes. “There’s clearly some good talent that you bring in from a top club that maybe in the future, 12 or 18 months down the line, could be playing in the Premier League.

“The thinking of top clubs letting you have a loan of their younger players is that they want them to progress.

“If you look at what we’ve got, we’ve got a great stadium and fanbase and can recreate a little bit of the pressure that they will be exposed to if they are going to be Premier League players.

“The sooner they get that experience the better.

“The loan market is something we have to tap into. We have to be clever with it and be astute.

“We have to make sure we pick the right ones who are able to deal with League Two and the right players that will be able to help us. That’s the skill I suppose.”

The Bantams have twice fallen foul of Premier League loanees during Hughes’ time in charge.

Newcastle midfielders Matty Longstaff and Elliot Anderson both played leading roles in defeats under the City boss.

Longstaff scored in Mansfield’s 2-0 win at Valley Parade, the first game under Hughes, and Anderson was instrumental for Bristol Rovers with an assist in City’s recent 2-1 loss at the Memorial Stadium.

Hughes will focus his search on players who have previous loan experience rather than coming in raw for their first spell away from their parent club.

He added: “I’ve got contacts at all the clubs at Premier League level and we know who we need to speak to if we become aware of a player who could help us.

“With younger players coming into League Two, sometimes you’re a little bit concerned if they haven’t been out on loan before.

“Certainly, there are other good players who have been out once or twice already.

“They understand it and maybe that’s a furrow we plough rather than guys who haven’t been exposed to it.

“There’s certainly good talent we can tap into and hopefully utilise next season.

“You don’t get the benefit in two or three years’ time from the work you put into them but you certainly do in the short term and that’s helpful.”

The presence of Hughes is not the only selling factor for clubs eyeing the best loan destination for their up-and-coming youngsters.

The size of Valley Parade’s crowd, which currently averages 15,325 going into tomorrow’s penultimate home game against Scunthorpe, is larger than 11 Championship sides.

Hughes said: “That’s why I think we look a good option if we get lucky for Premier League and Championship clubs to place their better talent at somewhere that will hopefully progress them.

“This club is a big platform and there are demands on players.”