James Trafford
James Trafford
James Trafford’s two starts for England in the UEFA Nations League have made him the first Leeds United goalkeeper to feature in goal for the Three Lions since Paul Robinson, and the 23-year-old has continued to impress following his summer move to Elland Road. Thomas Tuchel’s decision to play the Leeds man against Spain and Czechia suggests that Jordan Pickford’s status as England’s first-choice keeper may finally be in doubt.
Read More:Ireland vs Austria: Team News and Predicted Lineups
James Trafford: Can Leeds United Man Become England’s Number One Goalkeeper?
Pickford Benched as Trafford Gets England Chance
Despite being a guaranteed starter since making his debut against Germany back in 2017, Pickford now finds himself with a genuine challenger for England’s number one shirt. With 91 caps, two Euros finals and the second-most World Cup appearances for England, the Everton stopper has plenty of credit in the bank, but succession planning is clearly underway.
The 32-year-old is expected to start England’s remaining two Nations League matches in this international break, heading to Croatia on Saturday before a home tie with Czechia the following Tuesday. Both keepers will be vying for a starting spot at the 2028 European Championships, where Tuchel will be desperate to guide his side to a first international trophy since 1966.
What Did Tuchel Say?
When asked why Leeds’ Trafford remained in goal after England’s 3-2 loss to Spain on September 26, Tuchel said: “For me it was important he stays in goal, so he can use this experience with these players that he’s not played so much or maybe never played with.”
He added: “I’m glad he gets this experience. We just want to see who else is capable of producing performances for us, who else is ready to challenge Jordan Pickford, who did so well for us over so many years.”
Who Are the Other Contenders for England’s Number One Shirt?
Read More:Arsenal October Predictions: Guimaraes Shines as Gunners Prepare to Bounce Back
Crystal Palace’s Dean Henderson, who was also in the squad for this summer’s World Cup, is probably the other goalkeeper most likely to challenge Pickford for a starting spot. The 29-year-old has earned six caps for the Three Lions since his senior debut in 2020, and started the World Cup Third-Place Playoff against France.
Another highly-rated keeper is Brighton’s James Beadle, who is currently on loan at Birmingham City and has 17 caps at Under-21 level. The 22-year-old was named in the Team of the Tournament as the Young Lions won the 2025 U21 Euros, and looks a serious talent.
The Last Word: How Leeds United Switch Revitalised Trafford’s England Hopes
When Trafford re-joined boyhood club Manchester City for £31 million in the summer of 2025, it looked as if Pep Guardiola was putting a huge amount of faith in the young English goalkeeper following an impressive stint at Burnley. However, the deadline day arrival of Gianluigi Donnarumma quickly dashed any hopes of Trafford becoming City’s number one, and he only started four league games all season.
It was a completely different story at Leeds, where an aging Karl Darlow finished the season as the club’s first-choice, highlighting just how much investment was needed in the goalkeeping department. The £45m acquisition of Trafford shortly followed, and the opportunity to play Premier League football on a regular basis has paid immediate dividends for the former City man, who has kept two clean sheets in his five league games since making the switch to Elland Road.
Featured image courtesy of Imago/Branislav Racko