The former Manchester City and Stoke boss is sure the 21-year-old centre back will be worth the wait, after an initial deadline night move was held up by paperwork.
Tomkinson made his Bantams’ debut last weekend as a late substitute in a 1-1 draw against Grimsby, after his protracted signing was rubber stamped by the Football League.
“I wasn’t optimistic at all,” said Hughes, quoted by the Telegraph and Argus. “All the paperwork has to go in and if you’ve done that in time there’s a far greater chance of getting it done. But then we had to wait.
“We did everything we possibly could at our end and it was just a case of the league checking through it all and making sure it was all in before the deadline then they could sanction it.
“It looked like it wasn’t going to happen. But everything has been resolved and, in fairness, we’ve had great help from Norwich.
“They’ve obviously wanted Jon to have the opportunity to come to us and were really good in terms of making it happen from their end.”
“He’s a good, young player who has also had some games at League Two level. It’s not a first loan.
“He’s obviously well thought of at his parent club so we thought we’d try and do it.
“If we can bring in good players and allow them to prosper, then we get help as well. We’re pleased that he’s here.
“We’ll take our time with him and integrate him into the group. Then he should be ready to go. It was just a good opportunity to get a player that we’d like to work with.”
Tomkinson admits working with Hughes, and the pressure of a League Two promotion tilt with Bradford, convinced him to make the switch to Valley Parade.
Tomkinson was part of a Stevenage squad who earned promotion from the fourth tier last season, and wants to emulate the feat in a season long loan to push his Canaries’ claims.
“One thing about me is I don’t mind pressure. I love the big, important games,” said the American, interviewed by the Bantams’ official youtube channel, who was part of David Wagner’s pre-season plans before an untimely ankle injury in a friendly against FC Kaiserslautern.
“I want every game to have some meaning, and you get that when you are chasing promotion. You dream about playing in front of big crowds, passionate people, because we are all fans.
“It was a mixed experience (at Stevenage). I don’t think I played as much as I expected or would have liked to. But they won promotion and some players never see that. But that was a completely different style of football to what I expect here.
“He (Hughes) seems very composed and knowledgeable and we get on well already. It will be great for me to learn from him.
“Everyone comes with different experiences. In America, they are very big on playing out from the back, the pretty stuff if you like, and then you come to England and it is so much more physical.
“Obviously at Norwich you are still encouraged to play very good football, so there is a balance. Now coming down into League Two it is going to be a bit rougher for me. But I had a taste of that on loan at Stevenage last year. I just want to be the most complete player I can.”
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