MATT Bloomfield will aim to celebrate his contract extension with a Wycombe win in West Yorkshire.

The Chairboys boss has signed a further year on his current deal with the League One club after impressing American owner Rob Couhig since taking charge in February.

“He has proven himself to be extremely talented in all of the responsibilities that come with the role,” Couhig told the club website.

“The team has made tremendous strides in a short time and we are excited for the future with Matt at the helm.”

 

 

Bloomfield has legendary status at Wycombe, where he played 558 games before returning from Colchester to replace his former boss Gareth Ainsworth in the hot-seat.

He featured in the side that reached the semi-finals of the League Cup in 2007 – and Wycombe had also got to the last four in the FA Cup six years earlier.

Bloomfield would love to see a Valley Parade victory spark another cup run for his team.

“It would be incredible,” he said. “You mention the FA Cup and we all know the memories it’s brought to this football club in the recent past.

“I enjoyed some incredible memories in the Carabao Cup so we all know what a cup run can create.

“We’ll be well prepared for the Bradford game. It’s a slight distraction from the league and one we’re looking forward to.”

Bloomfield recalls watching games from Valley Parade on TV when City were a top-flight club.

“When you look at the size of the stadium, the goal that Paul Scholes scored there and how the big club is…I’m very excited to be going there," he told our sister paper, the Bucks Free Press.

"I remember watching Match of the Day during my childhood and seeing Bradford in the Premier League.

“And as a player, it was always an enjoyable experience to play there as it’s a big place to go to.

"So little bits like that you take from your teenage years so for me, it was always exciting to go to Valley Parade for that.”

Wycombe, who have drawn three of their last four games, have injury issues to contend with. Striker Sam Vokes joined the casualty list in midweek when he tweaked his hamstring while shooting against Cambridge.

Defender Joe Low’s return from a one-game ban is likely to see Bloomfield revert to playing three centre halves after switching to a back four on Tuesday.

“Joe’s suspension meant we didn’t have a player to play on the right of the three.

“We need to pick a team in their rightful positions rather than trying to force players into a formation that we’ve been using all season.

“We’re not obsessed with formations. We want players to be in positions where they feel comfortable.”