After a turbulent and often miserable 2023, Tyreik Wright “has a smile on his face again” after returning to Bradford City for the second time in his career on loan.

The Plymouth Argyle winger had made a slightly underwhelming start to his return on loan to Valley Parade, but he showed what all Bantams fans know he is capable of yesterday afternoon.

His finishing prowess was on display in City’s emphatic 3-0 win at Accrington, as he netted with two fine first-half strikes.

Wright was part of a brilliant front three yesterday, as he, Clarke Oduor and Andy Cook tore Stanley to shreds in the opening 45 minutes.

And the delighted former Aston Villa prospect was grinning from ear-to-ear when speaking to the T&A at full-time, something he has not done much of since leaving City for Plymouth last January.

He said: “I’m absolutely buzzing to be back playing with a smile on my face.

“For the whole of last year after I left Bradford, I didn’t play a single game with a smile on my face and I only played 13 times all year, which is not enough for me as a forward.

“I feel like I’m more than just a squad player and I’m not someone who’s happy to just sit on the bench.

“When I knew City were interested in me coming back, I knew I didn’t want to play anywhere else.

“I love the club to be honest.”

And he started repaying their faith in him yesterday with his brace, saying: “It definitely meant a lot to find the net twice today, because I hadn’t scored for over 15 months.

“It’s a massive confidence boost, but I’ve got my head down, worked hard, and the extra finishing after training seems to be working, so long may it continue.”

Finishing is an important part of Wright’s game, which he showed in his initial loan spell at City, with his deft finish to win a Yorkshire derby at Harrogate in October 2022 a particular standout moment.

He said: “It’s something I’ve been looking to improve on over the years.

“I haven’t scored enough goals in my career, as a forward, and that’s what we’re judged on these days unfortunately, on stats rather than how we’ve actually played.

“I’m looking to get my stats up and I said when I came back here that I wanted to score double figures this season.

“I don’t see why that can’t happen.”

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Tyreik Wright lets the fans know the score after netting his and City's second goal at Accrington yesterday.Tyreik Wright lets the fans know the score after netting his and City's second goal at Accrington yesterday. (Image: Thomas Gadd.)

Wright linked up well with wing-back Lewis Richards in the first half, the pair causing Accrington’s defence all manner of problems down the left.

Both have come through the academies at West Midlands Premier League teams, Wright with Villa and Richards at Wolves, the latter arriving at City from Molineux on a two-year deal last summer.

Wright and Richards have even more in common than that too, with the former saying: “We’ve got pace and power down the left the both of us, so we know we can cause a lot of teams problems on that side.

“We’ve trained together before at youth level with Ireland, so we know each other, how we want to play, and we just go off that really.”

Jamie Walker’s return to the City fold yesterday adds more competition to a forward line that arguably has some of the best depth in the whole of League Two.

Wright is unlikely to be replaced if he keeps putting in performances like his one yesterday, but any drop in standards or form could see him sat on the sidelines in no time.

That does not faze the 22-year-old, who said: “You’ve just got to do what you’ve got to do

“But I love a bit of competition, so it just makes me want to perform better and do a job in the frontline for the team and for myself.”

Wright only actually lasted 48 minutes at Accrington before being forced off with injury, but even that did not put a dampener on his day.

He said: “It’s just a little knock to my foot I picked up earlier in the game.

I don’t think its too serious and I should be back for Forest Green on Tuesday but we’ll see.”