Crystal Palace youngster Scott Banks has reflected on a hectic start on loan at Bradford City.
The Scotland youth international is getting his first taste of English football at senior level working with Mark Hughes’ Bantams in League Two. Banks was immediately thrown into the starting 11 for a Carabao Cup clash against Championship side Hull City in August, only a day after the loan deal was completed.
The Palace loanee couldn’t have asked for a better first experience with the club, as the League Two stunned the Tigers with a 2-1 win at Valley Parade. “It’s probably the best start I could have had and I did well in the game as well,” Banks told the Telegraph and Argus.
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“It let everybody in the club know what I’m about straight away and made it so much easier. After that, going into the next days at training everybody knows me and you bed into the squad. Not that it wouldn’t be easy anyway because it’s a good group.
“I’m very fortunate to be in with the group of pros that I have for my first league football in England. It’s a big squad now and there are a lot of good players. The quality in training is really high and we’re going to be dangerous if we can get everyone firing on all cylinders.”
Since making his debut, Banks has played seven times in total for the Bantams. He scored his first senior goal on English soil in a 3-1 win against Hartlepool United and grabbed an assist for Bradford’s opener in a 2-1 defeat in the Carabao Cup against Blackburn Rovers.
Bradford have had a decent start to the campaign under former Manchester United, Barcelona and Chelsea striker Mark Hughes. Three wins and two draws in their opening seven matches has placed them eighth in the table ahead of an away trip to Tranmere Rovers on Tuesday night.
After all EFL fixtures over the weekend were postponed, Banks said: “These are the first proper sessions really that I’ve had under the manager and not just recovery days. It’s been a really positive start. I’ve been itching to play as many minutes as I have been. Since I’ve been here, it’s been Tuesday and Saturday every week apart from one.
“There have been a lot of games but I’ve really enjoyed it. It’s something I’ve not been used to and it’s a great learning experience. I’m obviously feeling the effects but I’ve been able to manage it. It’s something my body is getting used to.
“I feel confident in the way I’m going about things. It’s something that’s very different but I’m being told the right things to do and the staff have been very helpful.”
Banks, who has had loan spells in Scotland with Alloa and Dunfermline since joining Palace from Dundee United in 2020, added: “I’m enjoying the challenge. There’s a lot of different formations and tactics and it’s very different from academy football.
“It’s frustrating at times when some teams have sussed us out. But every game you learn something new and it’s all hopefully going into my life experience and will improve me as a player. I want to keep performing well and hopefully build myself a bit of a reputation.”
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