Pep Guardiola believes highly-rated Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford will become England’s first-choice keeper “sooner or later.”
Trafford began the season as City’s starting goalkeeper after returning from Burnley in a £27 million move over the summer, featuring in their opening three Premier League games.
However, he has been on the bench since the marquee deadline-day arrival of Gianluigi Donnarumma from Paris Saint-Germain.
The 23-year-old did play in City’s EFL Cup third-round win at Huddersfield in September and is expected to keep his place in the competition lineup for Wednesday’s (October 29) trip to Swansea.
Despite playing fewer minutes than initially expected so far this season, Guardiola believes Trafford is destined for big things.
📲 Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
Sooner or later, says Guardiola
“The keeper is a special situation because the keeper plays, normally one, and the second one doesn’t,” Guardiola said ahead of City’s game against Swansea.
“All I can say is we are delighted with his behaviour in training.
“One of the reasons why we want to go through in [the EFL Cup] is because they all have to be ready in case we need in the Premier League and the Champions League.“
Guardiola lavished praise on Trafford, claiming that a starting spot for England is not far off at all.
“We have an incredible keeper in James. For England, sooner or later, he will be the one.
“I am pretty sure Gigi learns from James and James learns from Gigi. The goalkeepers are always connected.”
Indeed, it will not be easy for Trafford to displace current England No. 1 Jordan Pickford, who has won 80 caps and is enjoying a record run of nine consecutive clean sheets for the Three Lions.
Trafford, though, has been called up by Thomas Tuchel to the senior squad in the last four selections but is yet to earn his first cap after impressing in England’s Under-21 European Championship triumph in 2023, where he helped the Three Lions to glory without conceding a goal.
The 23-year-old will almost certainly start for City against Swansea, continuing to build his case as England’s goalkeeper of the future.
