Opinion

Is James Trafford the one Newcastle United need next season?

In simpler times, when the phrase “he’s a keeper” had only one meaning, the top tier of English football was packed with home-grown elite custodians.

Springett (Ron), Banks, Jennings, Bonetti, Shilton, Clements, Corrigan, Parkes, Southall and Seaman were the shot stoppers whose heroics I admired.

Today, of course, the Premier League is overloaded with overseas keepers and managers. The (German) England manager looking to select a World Cup squad isn’t exactly spoilt for choice.

Thus he awarded a first cap last week to James Harrington Trafford, aged 23, who has played a not-so-grand total of 31 EPL matches. The second-choice keeper at Manchester City has been seen as Newcastle United’s next No1 for a couple of years and, because of what has happened this season, the rumours are gathering strength.

Last summer Eddie Howe allegedly wanted to sign James Trafford. The Cumbrian would have been following in the footsteps of Nick Pope, who moved from Turf Moor to St James’ Park for a bargain £10m in June 2022.

Instead, Trafford made the much shorter trip to the Etihad for a reported fee of £27m on...