Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford will start against Newcastle in what could be his only season for the Blues before leaving
James Trafford
James Trafford
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Pep Guardiola will start James Trafford against Newcastle on Tuesday amid uncertainty surrounding the goalkeeper's future at Manchester City. Trafford picked City over Newcastle last summer but was almost immediately benched when the club signed Gianluigi Donnarumma on the final day of the transfer window.
Having started the first three Premier League games this season, Trafford has started none of 18 since with his appearances restricted to knockout competitions. Guardiola will keep him in goal for the first leg of their semi-final despite seeing Donnarumma as his No.1, and Newcastle will get another chance to see Trafford up close.
Eddie Howe talked him up on Monday and Newcastle could be in the market for a goalkeeper again in summer, when Trafford will be looking to move. The England stopper will do well to hold onto his spot in the World Cup squad if he does not play more regularly, and the path to first team football at the Etihad looks permanently blocked given Donnarumma is only 26.
Guardiola said that he would love to keep Trafford for 'many years' but accepted that there is not as much leeway to rotate goalkeepers as there is outfield players. City do not want to lose him in January, but would consider offers that came their way in summer given Trafford wants to play every week.
"He reacted really well. There's no complaints. James is a top keeper, and there's no doubt about that. I don't feel bad, but I understand the situation because the situation of the keeper is completely special: play one or the other one," said Guardiola.
"It's not like some players you can play in different positions, and you can do it like that. What I said, we count on him, we want him, and what's going to happen at the end of the season we will see.
“I would like him to stay for many, many, many years here, because he has attributes to play in a big, big club like us, but the situation of the keepers is special, is different, and we'll see what happens at the end of the season.”