James Trafford reveals England 'dream' as Thomas Tuchel outlines plan for No1 audition | OneFootball

Leeds shot-stopper preparing push to claim Jordan Pickford’s place

James Trafford says he is up for the challenge of achieving his dream of becoming England’s new No1 goalkeeper.

England head coach Thomas Tuchel decided he would hand 23-year-old Trafford the first two matches of England’s four Nations League games during this international break and that Jordan Pickford would play the last two.

Pickford, 33, has been England’s first-choice goalkeeper since November 2017 but will again be on the bench on Tuesday as Trafford starts for England in Prague against Czechia.

Trafford has tended to be third-choice when involved with England, with Crystal Palace’s Dean Henderson viewed as being above him in the pecking order.

But Henderson is absent from the England camp through injury. Trafford played the full 90 minutes in Saturday’s 3-2 defeat to world champions Spain as he made his third appearance for his country.

Trafford has made a strong start at Leeds United since joining from Manchester City this summer.

“[Have I gone] up a level in terms of ability? It’s hard to go up a level in terms of ability in a short space of time,” he said.

James Trafford started for England against Spain on Saturday and will do the same against Czechia this week

“The one thing I’m doing is playing and playing regularly and that’s one thing you have to do to get picked for your country.

“Make no illusions: there are not many players that don’t play [for their clubs but] start for any national team, and it was always my aim to play in a top league and play for a top team in Leeds this season. That’s what I wanted to do.”

Trafford joined City last summer and was initially told he would become their first-choice goalkeeper, but they then signed Gianluigi Donnarumma and Trafford spent most of the campaign on the bench.

Trafford took issue with the suggestion it had been a wasted season, saying: “I won two trophies. It obviously wasn’t ideal how it panned out but looking back I got two trophies to my name that I played every game in so you take the positives and you play the cards you’re dealt.”

Asked whether becoming England’s long-term No1 is his dream, he replied: “Yeah. It is every goalkeeper’s dream and every footballer’s dream to play for England and start for England. Everyone believes they can start and everyone’s just trying to prove every day that they can start.

“Since I first came into the camp two and a half years ago under Gareth [Southgate], me and Picks are both northern lads, we get along really well and it’s the reality in football that everyone competes for the starting XI. I think everyone is battling to start.”