James Trafford will be England’s No. 1 “sooner or later” says Pep Guardiola | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola has backed James Trafford (23) to become England’s first-choice goalkeeper, insisting it is “only a matter of time” before the Manchester City stopper takes the national team’s number one shirt, BBC Sport reports.

The 23-year-old began the season as City’s starting goalkeeper after returning from Burnley in a deal worth up to £31m, but has featured just once since Gianluigi Donnarumma’s arrival from Paris St-Germain on deadline day. Trafford is expected to start in Wednesday’s Carabao Cup tie against Swansea, having impressed in the previous round’s win over Huddersfield.

“The goalkeeper situation is always special,” said Guardiola. “Normally only one plays, but we are delighted with how James has behaved in training. For England, sooner or later, he will be the one.”

Trafford, who kept a clean sheet record during England Under-21s’ European Championship triumph in 2023, has been called up to four senior squads but is yet to earn his first cap.

Despite Jordan Pickford’s long-standing hold on the position, currently on a record run of nine consecutive clean sheets for England, Guardiola believes Trafford’s talent and temperament will ensure his time comes.

“I’m sure Gigi learns from James, and James learns from Gigi,” Guardiola added. “They’re both incredible goalkeepers, and they push each other every day.”

GFN | Finn Entwistle