Harry Pritchard is looking forward to taking pre-season preparations to the next stage, when the Bantams begin contact training.
Stuart McCall’s men have been working on a strictly non-contact basis since last Thursday, though are set to step up their plans tomorrow.
And, having enjoyed the intense, fitness-based work so far, the midfielder is eagerly anticipating kicking a football again.
He said: “We are all looking forward to getting the balls out properly.
“Up until now, it has been important to get the lungs and the legs ready for what will be a tough season, before focussing fully on football.
“It has been good. The early stages are obviously tough with a lot of running, but we have had the footballs out a little bit as well.
“It has been great to see everybody at the training ground and get back to a bit of normality, and we are all looking forward to starting contact training.
“The club has been given set rules to follow from the EFL - in terms of the pandemic - which is great, but we all just cannot wait to be back playing football again, and doing what we love.”
Having worked with Stuart McCall and Kenny Black for just over a month prior to last season’s curtailment, Pritchard is keen to impress the City coaching staff once again, ahead of 2020/21.
He feels the side will benefit undoubtedly from having a full pre-season campaign with the Bantams boss, and insists each player is keen to force their way into his plans.
The former Blackpool man added: “You always want to hit the ground running during pre-season.
“It is essential for us to work hard and try and impress the manager, to force our way into his plans ahead of the new season.
“No one is slacking as we all obviously want to be in the starting 11 for the first game.
“It is always good to have a full pre-season with a manager rather than him coming in halfway through the campaign.
“It enables them to get their style of play across and get straight into their system and what they want from us as players.
“It has been great to work with the gaffer and Kenny from the get go, and obviously great for them to get to work with us and see what kind of players they have at their disposal.”