Stuart McCall has tapped in to his Rangers connections to lure a promising midfield starlet to Valley Parade.

City have moved to bring in Dean Furman on a five-month loan deal to add competition to the team's engine room.

The 20-year-old South African is rated highly at Ibrox and boss Walter Smith is keen for him to pick up some first-team experience.

Furman has made only one senior appearance - for 38 minutes as a substitute against Dundee United at the end of last season - but he was frequently involved on the Rangers bench.

The busy central midfielder captained the Gers' under-19 team that thrashed Celtic 5-0 to win the Scottish Youth Cup in front of 11,000 fans at Hampden in May last year and was instrumental in the side that won the age-group title.

Furman, born in Cape Town, was one of the first signings of the ill-fated Paul Le Guen reign when he was spotted by Rangers scouts while playing for Chelsea's youth system in 2006.

Smith has identified him as a player for the future in the Scottish Premier League but believes a spell with City will toughen him up.

Talking to the Telegraph & Argus McCall said: "We let go five central midfielders last year and, even though we brought in Paul McLaren and Luke Sharry has moved up, I just felt that was an area of the pitch where we needed a bit more competition.

"I've never seen Dean play in the flesh but I've watched him a dozen times on Rangers TV and know what he can do. He can pass and get his foot in and he's good on the ball.

"He's also got the big-time experience from being on the bench for European ties and was in the South African full squad for their game against Australia at QPR.

"Rangers think very highly of him but they've just got Pedro Mendes from Portsmouth and Steve Davis from Fulham, as well as the American DaMarcus Beasley, who can all play in there.

"Dean needs to get some first-team football under his belt and is coming to a club where he has a chance of doing that.

"Everyone knows there are no guarantees of a place but he will have a fighting chance of getting in here. We've started well but it's all about individual performances and everyone is pushing for a spot in the starting 11."

Furman is McCall's first signing from the club he graced as a player, winning six Scottish Premier League crowns between 1991 and 1998.

The Bantams boss was inducted into the Rangers Hall of Fame last season.