GARY Bowyer has been backed to restore the fortunes of Bradford City by one of his former players from Keighley.

Matty Pearson, who has just won promotion to the Championship with Luton Town, says the Bantams boss will take the club back in the right direction following their relegation to League Two last month.

The 25-year-old centre-back worked under Bowyer in the youth and reserve teams at Blackburn Rovers during his spell at Ewood Park. He joined them aged 10, progressing through the academy to sign his first professional contract in the summer of 2011.

Read more: Move to Luton could not have gone better - Pearson

After a spell at Lincoln City, he joined League Two club Rochdale on a one-year contract after his release by Blackburn in 2012.

Pearson says he cannot speak highly enough of the former Blackpool boss and says he will get City moving in the right direction.

The former Accrington defender, whom City were linked with during the summer of 2017, said: "Gary was my youth team manager at Blackburn. I know him really well. I hope he does well.

"He is good with the players. I worked with him in the reserves as well. I worked with him for three or four years.

"He will play to his players' strengths and get them moving in the right direction."

Bowyer is busy wheeling and dealing as he looks to reshape a squad ready for the demands of League Two football next season.

Former Oakbank School student Pearson says he is still pinching himself following the Hatters' promotion and cannot believe the club's rapid rise in a short period of time.

He added: "Five years ago I was playing for Halifax in the Conference against Luton, now I'm going to play for them in the Championship.

"It will be special to play in the Championship. There are so many big teams."

Pearson, who has represented England Under-18s and the England C non-league team in 2013, also had words of praise for his new manager at Luton, Graeme Jones, who has taken over from caretaker boss Mick Harford.

He said: "Graeme has been associated with the Premier League. He has had 10 or 15 years experience.

"Mick has gone back to being Luton's head of recruitment. He loves doing that."