On-fire Wells makes in three in three

Nahki Wells’ superb start to the season continued as he got one over the club that rejected him by scoring his third goal in three games.

The 23-year-old Bermuda striker was a key player in a breathtaking 4-0 home win for the Bantams over Carlisle, who must now wish they’d kept hold of Wells when they had the chance.

Instead, City snapped him up and after 26 goals in the promotion-winning season last term, the former Dandy Town man has made a mockery of the step up to League One.

After Mark Yeates had netted the opener at Valley Parade, Wells seized on a poor back header to finish from a tight angle. Further goals from James Hanson and Gary Jones completed the rout in front of a crowd of 13,641.

City boss Phil Parkinson said after the game: “It was important that we made a statement with our first home game and we certainly did that.”

Before the match, Parkinson confirmed said there had been no more bids for Wells since Peterborough’s offer was turned down and reiterated his desire to keep hold of the forward.

He told the Bradford Telegraph & Argus: “We haven’t had any other calls. We haven’t had one enquiry from anyone at all and if someone was going to call, I would have expected it by now.

“There are lots of other good young players out there as well, Nahki’s not the only one. David Amoo has scored three goals for Carlisle.

“It’s not as if Nahki’s got two hat-tricks [this season], he’s got two goals. The day will come when he will hopefully play at a higher level but he doesn’t have to think about that now.

“He’s got to prove himself in this division first. If he does, we’ll see where it takes him and us.”

He added: “He’s got a focus about him and is ambitious to do the best he can. I want to help him fulfil his potential.

“Nahki’s a very confident boy and you need that bordering on a bit of arrogance as a striker.

“The hardest thing to do on a football pitch is put the ball in the back of the net. That’s why those players are worth their weight in gold.

“Nahki’s got the ability to do that. It’s about keeping him focused on what he needs to do each game to get those chances because when he does, we know he is clinical.”