‘Not what I expected’ – Trafford on Man City back-up role

When James Trafford arrived back at Manchester City in June for a fee of about £30m, he would have been hoping to emerge as the club’s number-one goalkeeper.

And he started this season in that role, featuring in City’s first three Premier League games of the campaign.

But Gianluigi Donnarumma’s arrival ripped up the pecking order.

City seized their chance to bring in one of the world’s best keepers when the Italian became surplus to requirements at Paris St-Germain on summer deadline day.

Donnarumma has played 30 matches for City since then, with Trafford having had to settle for domestic cup games – plus one Champions League appearance.

After keeping a clean sheet in the FA Cup fourth-round win over Salford City on Saturday, Trafford admitted the current situation is not what he had imagined.

When asked about being City’s cup goalkeeper, Trafford told the BBC: “It wasn’t what I expected coming into the season…

“It’s the reality and I have to give it my best shot. It’s the situation I’m in. We train every day but making saves, it’s good fun.”

Trafford played 45 games last season as Burnley won promotion to the Premier League, conceding just 16 goals in the Championship in the process.

The 23-year-old then decided it was time to tackle unfinished business at City, who he had left in 2023 in search of regular playing time.

With Ederson regressing last season, City boss Pep Guardiola had clearly plotted to overhaul his goalkeeping department.

Re-signing Trafford from Burnley in June seemed the sensible option – a keeper with plenty of experience for his age who had spent six years in the club’s academy and impressed for England’s Under-21s.

Trafford had also been picked as part of England’s initial 33-man squad for Euro 2024 – although he did not make the final cut – and a role as City’s number one could have bolstered his senior international prospects.

But he has not featured in a Three Lions squad since November and a spot at this summer’s World Cup now appears to be unlikely amid his lack of game time.

“I feel sorry for Trafford,” former City goalkeeper Nicky Weaver told BBC Radio Manchester in December. “When he signed, he probably thought he was going to be number one.

“We don’t exactly know what he was told, but when you get the opportunity to bring someone in of Donnarumma’s quality and at his age as well, for a relatively moderate fee, you have to take that opportunity. I feel for Trafford, I really like him.

“It’s the life of a goalkeeper. I’ve been number one, number two and three. It’s really difficult. You don’t see a way into the team for him.