Striker Eoin Doyle backed to hit the target for Bradford City

Eoin Doyle in pre-season training with Preston. Picture: Neil Cross/Johnston Press.

The 30-year-old is yet to get off the mark since his summer move from Preston North End as a direct replacement for last season’s top scorer Charlie Wyke.

But Collins said: “I can see from Eoin that he is growing every game. He was at Preston on the outside a little bit so his pre-season has been a bit staggered.

“I think he will get stronger and stronger. The pleasing thing for me is the work-rate from him. I can see the runs he is making and he is getting into the right areas.

“Not too far in the distant future, I am sure those balls will start arriving at his feet and he will start putting them in the back of the net.”

Bradford host Wycombe Wanderers tomorrow hoping to build on the midweek win over Burton Albion.

Having lost horribly at Southend United last Saturday to cap a week to forget that included crashing out of the Carabao Cup to League Two strugglers Macclesfield Town, City needed a big response against the Brewers.

It came via a much-improved display and one that Collins believes indicates that progress is being made after a summer of upheaval that brought not only his appointment but also 15 new faces to the squad.

“Everyone is still finding their feet,” added the 32-year-old. “The lads are still working out the strengths and weaknesses of each other.

“There were some good individual performances on Tuesday night, which gives us a lot of encouragement going forward. It wasn’t our best performance. We can’t say it was a full 90 minutes of what we want to be about.

“But the character from the lads to get the three points after a difficult week was the most pleasing thing.

“The mood is much brighter as a result, though you would expect that

“Over time, you would like to think the performances will come. But in this industry, no matter what happens, you have got to register points on the board.

“The good thing is we can build now going into Wycombe. They have had a mixed start to the season since winning promotion but it will be a tough test.

“Any team coming here gets that extra lift by coming to a ground like this with a big crowd.”