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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
John McDougall

Encouraging Manchester City message which bodes well for James Trafford's Bolton Wanderers spell

James Trafford made a good start to life at Bolton Wanderers with a clean sheet on his debut.

Trafford joined Wanderers on loan from Manchester City to become the club's fourth signing of the January transfer window so far.

The move cut short his loan spell from fellow League One club Accrington Stanley and the 19-year-old was thrust straight into action at Bolton at the first opportunity.

READ MORE: Joel Dixon's Bolton Wanderers future spelt out as Manchester City signing stakes goalkeeper claim

Ian Evatt opted to choose Trafford as goalkeeper ahead of Joel Dixon, who in turn dropped to the bench.

And the young stopper kept a clean sheet on his debut in the 2-0 win over the Tractor Boys, which Bolton won thanks to goals from Kieran Lee and Dapo Afolayan.

Trafford has been at the Etihad Stadium since the age of 12 and is also an England under-20 international.

He has stiff competition in front of him at Pep Guardiola's side for the goalkeeping position, including number one Ederson, back-up Zack Steffen and veteran stopper Scott Carson.

Though he is down the pecking order right now in that department, Trafford gave an encouraging message about his chances at City which should bode well for the coming months on loan at Wanderers.

And he has also pinpointed what he has picked up from the likes of the trio, which he will now be taking to Bolton.

Speaking to GOAL last month, Trafford said: “If I didn't believe I could do it I would just leave, because what's the point in being at a club where you don't see yourself as being number one?

“I’m not really bothered about the money - if I didn't see myself as becoming City's number one, I wouldn't be here.

"The biggest thing I learned from all of them is that they're always at it. It doesn't matter whether they get back at midnight and the night before they’ve travelled on the plane for hours, everyday they're at it - they don't have a day off.

“It's why they are where they are, they push each other and you have to rise to their level or you're screwed. You'd kill the session.

“You just have to keep getting better and better because Ederson’s at a level where no one else is really at. On the ball, he's just as good as some of the outfield players, it’s just a joke.”

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