The midfielder ended a 15-year connection with boyhood club Everton when he joined in the summer.
He admits there have been some testing moments being out the side but is showing the promise that Graham Alexander identified.
Metcalfe goes into today’s home showdown with Reading on the back of an all-action display in last week’s win at Plymouth.
The 21-year-old relishes the Valley Parade vibe – and does not see it as a comedown from leaving his top-flight roots.
“I don’t even take it as like a move from a Premier League club,” said Metcalfe. “I take it as a move from being an under-21 Everton player to Bradford.
“I don’t take it as if I was at the top of Everton because I wasn’t. I was still million miles away from it, I was just in and around it. Just a shadow really.
“Now I am a first-team player at Bradford and amongst it.”
Metcalfe was named on the bench for the opening two Premier League games of last season against Brighton and Tottenham. His last Everton appearance was in the under-21s in the EFL Trophy before signing on loan with Chesterfield.
“I was forever grateful for that little period I had to be around the first team and training with them,” he added. “I was on the bench a few times in the Premier League, it was a good feeling and you can’t take that away from me.
“I was an Everton supporter and still am now, so to be there you realise all these people are in front of you. These were your idols growing up and I still watch the games.
“You’ve got to be a real shining light that the manager sees something in you and have a bit of luck as well, if I am being honest.
“I thought last season, when they said they were short of budget, that they might not have been bringing too many players in and would stick with what they had. They managed that well and that’s why I got to train with the first team.
“It was surreal. They are all top, top players in the Premier League and it really doesn’t get much better than that.
“They are all doing well at Everton and the club is really successful now and it’s going in the right direction.”
Metcalfe made his fifth League One start for City at Home Park and 19th appearance overall since arriving for an undisclosed fee on a deal until 2028.
“It’s enough time so I can iron out some things and get better and we’ll see where I’m at in three years’ time.”
Three of City’s four games between now and the end of the year are at the University of Bradford Stadium. Metcalfe is eager to use that advantage to strengthen their place among the leading pack.
“When you come out, there’s just a roar and you can feel the ground shaking. It’s just that whole buzz and you can feel the fans behind you from minute one to minute 95 or 96.
“Teams know that coming to Valley Parade is going to be tough. It’s well known for what it is and before I even came here, I knew that.
“It’s a given that they are going to see the results we’ve been getting and that’s just in their mindset coming here.
“We don’t really think about that too much, we just focus on ourselves going into the game. We’re not really too bothered about them.”