James Trafford’s Leeds United debut was everything the club could have wished for. He was key as the Whites managed to win their first Premier League game of the season.
The England keeper made three crucial saves, was dominant in the air during set pieces and made crucial interventions sweeping behind the defence.
He helped keep a shutout as Leeds needed just one goal to win the game.
Anton Stach curled in a late free kick to give the travelling supporters something to cheer about.
Leeds are up against Nottingham Forest in the League Cup on Tuesday night.
David Seaman back Leeds United new boy James Trafford
James Trafford. Credit: IMAGO
Leeds United made James Trafford their priority signing this summer.
They paid a record fee for him and tied him down on a long-term contract to become number one.
The 23-year old will be hoping to bounce back from last season where he was on the bench for Man City. Even as a cup keeper, he proved his worth and kept clean sheets in the EFL Cup final and FA Cup final.
Former England keeper David Seaman has backed Trafford’s move to Leeds, saying that he is a big fan of the player on Stadium Astro.
”Yeah, I am [a big fan]. When I first saw him, when he was at Burnley, he had this arrogance about him which I felt was like a little bit over the top. But he seems to have calmed that down a bit, and then he went to city, and he got dealt a massive blow, you know, because he thought he was going to city as number one, didn’t he? Yeah, literally, a few weeks later, they signed on Donnarumma which was a big body blow.”
When asked about the former Man City keeper’s chances at being England number one, Seaman was hopeful.
”…I’ve seen him play for England a few times as well. He seems much calmer. He’s got this move now where he’s going to be playing and that’s what he needs. He needs to be playing every game and in is try and them put pressure on Jordan Pickford.”
”He’s got a real good chance. The fact that he’s playing now is gonna help him. That’s where Aaron [Ramsdale] dropped out of it a little bit, you know, he ended up not playing. You know he was pushing and pushing and then all of a sudden he got dropped and that’s when Raya came in and really scuppered his chances.”
”But yeah with Jordan, he hadn’t had the best World Cup he’s ever had, but there’s a bit of pressure now, even from Henderson as well. In order to get a regular place in an England national side, you’ve got to be playing for your club. End of.”
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