OLLIE Crankshaw wants more than a walk-on part as City stage their charge up League Two.

The winger made his second start since his deadline-day arrival from Wigan in Saturday’s win at Walsall.

With Gareth Evans still sidelined after a hamstring strain, Crankshaw is hoping to have done enough to retain the jersey for tomorrow night's Mansfield home clash as the Bantams target a fifth straight victory.

If he does, it will be the first time the 22-year-old has made back-to-back starts as a professional.

Crankshaw made the bulk of his previous appearances for the Latics as an impact sub – a role he is hoping to shed with his switch to Valley Parade.

He said: “That’s a big thing for me and why I came to Bradford City.

“I wanted to develop as a player and to be a regular in the first team.

“I want to work hard under the managers and show how I can change my game to be a starter rather than off the bench. Hopefully, I can do that.

“It is a bit different mindset.

“Normally you’re coming on as a sub, especially as a forward, to score a goal or to try and control the game.

“As a starter, you’ve got to try and mix your game up from start to finish depending on how it pans out.

“You get used to it and the more experience, the better you get. Hopefully, I can continue working hard and get my chance.”

Crankshaw made a match-changing cameo from the bench in the last home game against Leyton Orient.

His positive running finally prised open a stubborn visiting defence and earned the penalty which Callum Cooke emphatically dispatched in front of the empty Kop.

Mansfield could also be tempted to pack men behind the ball and look to frustrate the Bantams in a similar fashion.

“Every game is going to be a new challenge for us,” added Crankshaw. “The way we’re playing at the minute is really good but there are a lot of strong teams in this league.

“We’re playing with confidence and we’ll take it game-by-game and hopefully keep it going with the flowing passes and the movement we’ve got.

“I feel we’ve got the patterns of play to break teams down and keep getting goals and wins on the board.

“You need to vary things and that’s a big part of the training ground and how the managers are telling us to play. We can change things up and mix our game.

“It’s really all down to them and the hard work they are putting in on the training days.”

City’s best winning run for five years has moved them within four points of Bolton in the last play-off spot – and they have two games in hand.

But Mark Trueman and Conor Sellars are making sure feet stay firmly planted on the floor within the squad.

Crankshaw said: “We do notice the momentum building but I feel that everyone is level-headed and working extremely hard on and off the pitch.

“We’re just taking it game by game, focusing on Mansfield now and then it will be Bolton at the weekend.

“The table is difficult to call, that’s why you’ve just got to concentrate on the next game. Put in good performances and wins on the board.

“The mentality around the place is really good. Since I’ve been at the club, I’ve found all the staff are really happy and it’s a really good environment to be in.

“You just feel that you’ve got that extra energy and playing with that sense of freedom. You don’t realise how much that helps and has an effect on you being in that winning side."