Bentham openly admits Celtic's results will be the first he looks for between now and the end of the current campaign.

The 23-year-old is rooting for Farsley to beat the drop from the Blue Square Premier and if they do, it will be partly down to the efforts of the combative midfielder during his three-month loan spell at Throstle Nest.

Bentham played a key role as Celtic picked up five wins and three draws from 12 matches to make them favourites to win a five-way battle to avoid the final two relegation places in the division, though they were rocked back by a 2-1 home defeat to Droylsden on Tuesday night – 48 hours after his departure.

"I was absolutely gutted on Tuesday night when they lost – and I wasn't even playing," admitted Bentham. "I can't imagine how the lads must have felt.

"I was at Bradford and I was watching the results on the television as they were coming through, and it is the first result I will look for again this weekend.

"Hopefully, they will stay up. It was a poor result on Tuesday but luckily other results went their way. Hopefully, they will do it and they are definitely capable of staying up with the players they have got, the way they play football and the mentality of the club."

Bentham has mixed feelings about returning to Coca-Cola League Two side Bradford after his loan spell and he hasn't ruled out a permanent return to Throstle Nest when his contract expires at the end of the season.

He figured in 20 games for the Bantams in the second half of last season but made just one start and two substitute appearances this time round under new boss Stuart McCall before his January switch to the Celts.

It has been a totally different story at Farsley – he will have been one of the first names boss John Deacey wrote on the teamsheet – and the prospect of drifting back onto the fringes clearly isn't an appealing one.

But Bentham, who was unable to figure for Bradford against Barnet on Tuesday night due to tendonitis in a knee, was set to travel with the City squad to Brentford yesterday and he is hoping to force his way back in.

Bentham said: "If I get the chance to play for Bradford again I will give it my all as I always do and I will be chuffed to bits.

"I am a bit gutted to be back in a way because I have been starting every week for Farsley. But now I am back I am just concentrating on the month I have got left at Bradford and then I will see what happens.

"I would obviously rather stay in the Football League, but if it means dropping down again to get regular football I will do it.

There is not a big difference between the Conference and League Two.

"Obviously, I enjoyed my time at Farsley and if they stay up and they wanted me, it would be a good option."

Celtic boss Deacey has already made it clear Bentham is one of his top summer transfer targets should Farsley beat the drop to Blue Square North.

The midfielder has left a lasting impression at Celtic, and signed off on a high with Farsley picking up back-to-back victories over Weymouth and Torquay before his departure.

But Celtic also left a lasting impression on the player, who got his shirt signed by the entire team following last weekend's superb 1-0 victory in Devon.

"I am pleased with how it went," said Bentham. "I couldn't really have asked for any more and I can't thank the lads and John Deacey enough.

"They have been absolutely great and made me feel so welcome. I really enjoyed my time there.

"I will just keep working hard now, try and shake off this injury, hopefully I'll be involved again at Bradford and, fingers crossed, Farsley will stay up.

"That would be the ideal situation for me, to get a couple of games in for Bradford before the end of the season and for Farsley to stay in the Conference."