Bolton Wanderers manager Ian Evatt believes goalkeeper James Trafford is maturing while out on loan following his spell with England under-21s and feels the Manchester City loanee's mentality and mindset are his best assets with his aims to be number one for his club one day.
The 19-year-old joined Wanderers from City in the January transfer window, after a loan spell at Accrington Stanley came to an end. He proved to be a hit at Evatt's side, as he became the club's number one goalkeeper in the the second half of the campaign in place of Joel Dixon.
He has continued that form back at the League One club this season by returning on loan for the campaign. He has also committed his long-term future to City by signing a new five-year deal with the Premier League champions and has made no secret of his desire to one day be first choice at his parent club.
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He has recently been on England under-21 duty and turned out in the 3-1 win over Germany at Bramall Lane in Sheffield on Tuesday evening. Wanderers boss Evatt was there to witness how the youngster did first hand.
Trafford joined Bolton in January following a tricky spell at Stanley, but Evatt feels that has been somewhat of a blessing in disguise as time has gone on. He praised the youngster's mindset and mentality as he outlined his development.
Also on loan at Wanderers is Liverpool youngster Conor Bradley, who has been hugely impressive in the early stages of his time at the League One club. Evatt feels the duo will have fantastic careers at the game, whether they ultimately make it at their parent clubs or not.
Evatt said: “It is brilliant for him to be playing at that level of football, a great learning curve. Still lots to do and lots to improve on, there’s no denying that. But I think he is a really solid goalkeeper and it shows you how much he is progressing by being in and around that group. If you look at that team on paper, it is immensely strong with hugely valuable players on that pitch. If he is in and around that, it means he is doing the right things with us so long may that continue.
“I think he has grown up a little bit and matured, there is no doubt about that., He has a really strong mindset and mentality, that is one of his best assets. Being a goalkeeper and especially a young goalkeeper, there are going to be times where you make mistakes.
"I think the time he spent at Accrington and making a couple of mistakes and finding himself out of the team was hugely valuable to him. He has learned from that, he has progressed.
"Last season he was great for us, and he has come back again this season and been really good. But he knows and I know how ambitious he is. He has got a long, long way to go. As I said his mindset, mentality and attitude is first class.
"Goalkeepers in particular, but Conor [Bradley] as well, young players who have huge futures and huge things are expected of them in the future. They carry that little bit of, not arrogance but it is borderline arrogance. It is a fine line between confidence and arrogance, and I think those two in particular have got it pretty nailed. They are not arrogant, they are really humble young lads.
"They want to work hard and improve their game. But they have that swagger and confidence around them where they believe in themselves, and they are both producing excellent performances.”
“They are still learning all the time and what we would like to think is that both players have improved and progressed under our banner, and I think that is the case. We are talking about two lads who have aspirations of playing at the very top of the game.
"Manchester City and Liverpool are two of the best clubs in the world, and you have to be elite to play at that level. If they don’t play at that level, I’m sure they will both have brilliant careers, Premier League careers, there is no denying that.
"They shouldn’t beat themselves up if they don’t achieve that goal. But I do believe both of them have a fantastic chance and opportunity to do it.”
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