James Trafford has his sights set on becoming Manchester City's number one some day but is for the moment loving life at Bolton Wanderers after his loan spell got off to a promising start.
Trafford joined Wanderers on loan from Manchester City last week and was handed his Bolton debut versus Ispwich Town last Saturday.
He kept a clean sheet on his first appearance for Wanderers, with whom he will be with until the end of the season on loan.
READ MORE: Encouraging Manchester City message which bodes well for James Trafford's Bolton Wanderers spell
Trafford has reflected on making the move and his early life at Bolton so far and believes that the way Wanderers play football under Ian Evatt and is a style which suits him more compared to his earlier loan spell this season at Accrington Stanley.
And he believes he has grown up a lot in the past half a year away from the Etihad Stadium as he has enjoyed his start to life at Wanderers.
He said: “Ever since the first day I have enjoyed the whole set up, how professional it is, how I am used to. The gaffer and the lads drive each other.
“It was good fun the debut, being back playing and helping the team.
“I know a lot about the gaffer and how he got on at Barrow. I like how Bolton play, it’s how I was brought up and similar to City so it is helping my development.
“I learned loads during my time at Accrington but the simple thing is that I wasn’t playing and I felt my development would be better elsewhere.
“The gaffer (John Coleman) there didn’t stand in my way to leave.
“The whole set up at Bolton suits me more.
“The five months I spent at Accy has put me in good stead here because even though I’m young I know the league.
“I have seen more or less every team and I have played against half of them. Saturday didn’t come as a surprise.
“Even though I was around the first team environment at City it was a different experience in the lower leagues. At Accy, being around the pros every day made me grow up a lot.
“I have come here to contribute, push the other goalies, and see what we can achieve."
The goalkeeper has recently turned just 19 and his young age was an aspect that sections of Wanderers fans on Twitter expressed some concern when the signing was announced.
Some drew parallels with the age that Billy Crellin was when he was brought into Wanderers last season on loan from Fleetwood Town and the subsequent struggles that he had.
But Trafford sent a message to those Wanderers fans who had those concerns and does not read any negative criticism which comes his way.
He said: “You are aware of pressure but nothing really gets to me that much. I am calm.
“I saw a bit of it – and I was like ‘chill out, you haven’t actually seen me play’.
“Maybe they saw some highlights and some bad bits but everyone has those.
“I tended not to go on Twitter because it’s a rough place at times.
“When I found out I was playing I just tried to focus on what I normally do. When the game came I knew if I gave 100 per cent, nobody can question my attitude. If they think I am a bad goalie, so be it, I won’t read it."
Trafford is adamant in his belief that he will become number one at Pep Guardiola's side in the future and believes his time at Wanderers will help with that ambition.
He is fourth choice at City behind Ederson, Zack Steffen and veteran Scott Carson in the goalkeeping department.
Trafford has reflected on what he has picked up from being involved in the first team environment at City and how he speaks to fellow Cumbrian Carson for advice and tips on how to improve.
He said: “I believe I will be City’s number one someday and the more experience I get with the ball at my feet, the better.
“A lot of clubs in League One play really direct, which I don’t see myself doing at City. It suits me with Bolton playing a high line, it’s the best for my development right now.
“It was different. Even though, technically, you are on the bench and there is a chance of you playing, there were other keepers – Steffen, Cars, and I know that – so that meant I could be a sponge and take it all in.
“Watching Ederson, how he operates around the dressing room, little things that I can take into my own game. I learned so much from being around it all.
“I speak to him (Carson) quite a bit, we grew up in the same area. He always gives me tips when he feels like he can. He helps a lot because he has played in many league and made loads of appearances.
“He just says to enjoy it because the more I play, the more I enjoy it, the better I’ll do. The people close to me will tell you I really enjoyed training at Bolton on Thursday and Friday, and I think that showed on the Saturday.
“When I am down and not enjoying it, that’s when I don’t play so well."
