Bradford City forward now in last chance saloon with move

It marks his second temporary League Two switch of 2023, with him having joined Barrow at the start of the year.

Few expected Young to be at Valley Parade for the 2023/24 campaign, but one wonders whether a permanent deal might have been preferable, allowing both City and Young to start afresh.

Perhaps only loan offers were forthcoming though, or perhaps, just maybe, the Bantams and boss Mark Hughes are prepared to give Young one last chance, given they have inserted the option to recall the 22-year-old in January.

But his absence from City’s pre-season trip to Spain was telling, as was the fact that he was named in their squad to take on Bradford (Park Avenue) last month, when the rest of the side was made up of teenagers.

He received plenty of support from those who came down to watch the fixture at Horsfall, suggesting that many were still, and perhaps are still, hoping he can succeed at City.

Young, who was born in Huddersfield and came through the Guiseley and Sheffield United academies, was a popular signing when he came in last summer, having played his part in Forest Green’s promotion to League One in 2021-22.

A delighted Hughes said at the time: “Jake is a player we are really excited to be bringing to Valley Parade, and are looking forward to working with. 

“At just 20, he is young and still very much growing into the game, but has had experiences in the play-offs at this level and already achieved promotion last season.

“He carries a lot of dangerous attributes in his game and is happy to be back up in Yorkshire, and more so at this club.”

He started well too, scoring against Barrow and Walsall in the league, as well as netting a brace against Sheffield Wednesday in the EFL Trophy.

Young appeared to have perfected a trademark goal too, which would see him cut inside from the left on to his right foot, before whipping the ball into the far corner.

Jake Young celebrates scoring a superb goal against Walsall last September. (Image: Tom Pearson.)

But after playing a part in seven of City’s first eight league games, he was not selected again for a fourth-tier fixture by Hughes, falling out of favour to the disappointment of many fans who felt he was promising.

He featured regularly at Barrow though, so it seems they had faith in him as a League Two player.

But then again, only five of his appearances under Pete Wild at Holker Street were starts, meaning for whatever reason, he could not get into the best first XI of a side of lesser quality than City.

He also failed to score, a far cry from the player who started so positively in front of goal last season.

The T&A reported in June that Young had allegedly been told he could leave the club this summer, despite having two years left on his contract.

And matters took an interesting turn a fortnight ago, when Hughes revealed that Young had actually turned down chances to leave the club.

Mark Hughes has openly admitted the club were keen for Jake Young to go out on loan to another club. (Image: Tom Pearson.)

Hughes revealed: “I feel that Jake probably needs to go out on loan for his own benefit.

“He’s had opportunities that he hasn’t taken. He has his own reasons for that.

“If we bring in a few more players, that’s going to stop his pathway to the team even more so.

“Just from his own playing position, he just needs to go out on loan and take an opportunity and show what he can do.”

He now has that opportunity, but this is very much the last chance saloon for his career at City.

If he proves a success at Swindon, City may well give him another go, given he is still contracted until the summer of 2025.

But if he fails to rediscover his mojo at the County Ground, it is hard to see any way back for him at Valley Parade.