Harry Cornick has revealed his ambition to guide Bristol City to the Premier League for the first time in their history.
The Robins have hovered around the Championship and League One over the last 20 years, and Cornick feels now is the time they can make the step up to topflight football.
The striker joined City from Luton Town in January, and has featured in their last three matches. Though Cornick is yet to score, he is also yet to lose in a red shirt, and the 27-year-old is confident that the club’s positive run of form can continue after going 11 matches unbeaten in the Championship.
“I can see the club going all the way to the Premier League,” he said. “It’s a Premier League club, the training ground, the players, everything about it screams Premier League to me.
“I want to be a part of that journey and hopefully I can do my bit to help the club get there.”
The dream of a place in England’s top division would’ve felt a distant dream before the new year, following City’s Boxing day defeat to West Bromwich Albion, Nigel Pearson’s side sat just two points above the relegation zone.
But, two months on, they are yet to taste defeat again. Since the turn of the year, the Robins have turned their fortunes around and are now within touching distance of the play-off places. The Robins are nine points off Luton Town in sixth, with 48 points still to play for.
The striker made 211 appearances for the Hatters between 2017 and 2023, and netted 34 goals. However, Cornick has struggled for minutes at Town this season, and felt a move away would be beneficial for him.
Despite City’s run, they still sit 15th in the table and are still very much a work-in-progress. Cornick revealed how big of a part Pearson played in the move.
“When I spoke to the manager on the phone, he outlined the ambition of the club and where he sees the club going, and I was sold,” he said.
“From speaking to Kal Naismith and a few other players, they spoke really highly of the club to me, and it felt like a no brainer given my circumstances at Luton.”
Pearson’s side face fellow play-off contenders Hull City at Ashton Gate on Saturday, the Tigers defeated the Reds 3-2 at the start of the season, and Cornick admitted it will be a tough test.
“They’ve been flying recently, they’re on a really good run of form,” he said. “I think Liam Rosenior’s gone in and done an unbelievable job, he’s a very talented coach and they’ve improved a lot since we played them earlier in the season.
“It’s going to be tough to get three points, but at home, we have to be aggressive and fearless and take the game to them.”
