ON PAPER, Daniel Oyegoke’s time at Bradford City has been bittersweet, with an unfortunate injury impeding his progress.
The defender politely disagrees. He emphasises that he will return to parent club Brentford as not only a better footballer, but also a’stronger person’. This is undoubtedly the ultimate goal for young players who go out on loan.
Oyegoke, who returned to Bradford at the end of the winter after missing time due to shoulder surgery in mid-November, said: “I’ve played in a variety of positions and been a part of winning teams as well as losing ones.
This season, I’ve experienced both ends of the spectrum, and I believe I’ve grown significantly.
It has unquestionably strengthened me as a person and a player. That is for certain.
While many teams in City’s position would have terminated Oyegoke’s season-long loan following his autumnal injury, Alexander left the door open for him to return in the new year, and the 21-year-old is appreciative.
He stated, “For me, I enjoyed my time here and the players, and I was always eager to return.
But it was up to the gaffer, and I knew he was new as well. It was his decision, and I would have honoured it.
“He was completely brilliant. He’d call me frequently and we’d have excellent conversations, and I’d tell him about the games that were going on and wish them success.
“Loan guys, particularly those who are injured, are frequently ignored. But that was not the case; they (the manager, staff, and players) were wonderful.”
Oyegoke says that his faith helped him deal with his first significant injury.
He stated, “It was (unnerving).” But I have a strong faith, and it was something that had to happen; for what reason I am not sure.
“For me, it was simply about getting my body in shape and focusing on the things I wanted to work on both technically and physically.
“My lower body was fine, so I had a lot of time to work on my speed and power and I used it to the best of my ability.”
