JAMES TRAFFORD has brought a "natural aura" to Leeds United since they made him Britain's most expensive goalkeeper, according to manager Daniel Farke.
For Leeds to pay a club record £45m for a player with only two England caps and 32 Premier League starts before Saturday's 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest was a big show of faith, but the 23-year-old was man of the match on his debut.
And Trafford brings more than just his ability to handle the ball as one of the division's most accomplished goalkeepers with the ball at his feet, and a personality Farke feels has added to the dressing room.
It was why he was so keen to spend such a big amount of his budget on Trafford, who he hopes will be the first player of a tenure now into its fourth year to start and end the season as Leeds' No 1.
"We have to keep in mind that he's still young," cautioned Farke.
"When I compare him with one of the greatest in this position, Manuel Neuer in Germany, you could see his potential in his younger age but you need to add a bit of consistency to your game so there's never a guarantee that you're not there with a mistake sometimes. James has not played too many games last season so it's not that easy.
"But the early signs are very positive.
"It's also how he interacts with his team-mates, how he carries himself on a daily basis, how he already buys into the DNA of our club and enjoys his first days here.
BIG PRESENCE: Leeds United goalkeeper James Trafford has impressed manager Daniel Farke since his big-money move from Manchester City. Picture: David Rogers/Getty Images.placeholder image
BIG PRESENCE: Leeds United goalkeeper James Trafford has impressed manager Daniel Farke since his big-money move from Manchester City. Picture: David Rogers/Getty Images.
"It's very remarkable and I like his performances – the two pre-season games and obviously the first (competitive) gameday. I think he has a natural aura on the pitch, which is quite important.
"In the last game, he didn't have to be there with 10 unbelievable saves but his appearance (demeanour) on the pitch is also important.
"This gives clarity, safety and confidence for the whole team and especially the defensive players.
"It's very important to not always have a discussion point about the No 1 position and this is why we spent some money on this position."
AURA: Leeds United goalkeeper James Trafford (Image: Darren Staples / AFP via Getty Images)placeholder image
AURA: Leeds United goalkeeper James Trafford (Image: Darren Staples / AFP via Getty Images)
Trafford plays in a different style to his predecessors, more eager to play as a Neuer-style "sweeper-keeper". Those differences make it important for players in front to get used to him, so with uncertainty over No 2 Lucas Perri, it may be goalkeeper is one of the positions Farke does not rotate when Leeds return to the City Ground on Tuesday.
"We play perhaps different processes in the build-up in comparison to his former clubs or former managers, like how we want to bypass the opponent's pressing, and we have to adapt," explained Farke.
"And there's a difference with which player you play. Until you get to know how exactly Jaka Bijol, Nico Elvedi, Joe Rodon or Tarik (Muharemovic) moves, you need a bit of time to figure this out – which pass the centre-back likes, which processes the manager wants to play.
"It's important to speak a lot and to train a lot (on) what we do with goal-kicks or whatever but not to overload him the first day.
INSTABILITY: The same goalkeeper has never started and ended a season as Leeds United's first-choice goalkeeper under Daniel Farke's management (Image: Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)placeholder image
INSTABILITY: The same goalkeeper has never started and ended a season as Leeds United's first-choice goalkeeper under Daniel Farke's management (Image: Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)
"If I would just have an eight-hour meeting per day, I can give him all the information but it would be too much. If you work together really for months and then hopefully also for years, it's always easier because then you have these automatisms that you need for your game.
"But especially on the build-up we've worked and spoken a lot, also showed many scenes and worked individually with him sometimes.
"Our goalkeeper coach Ed Wootten is doing a fantastic job with me, together with my assistants, so big compliments to them."
Of Perri, strongly linked with a loan to Torino when Trafford arrived, Farke said: "Lucas is a really good goalkeeper and a really good character as well.
"He played several games last season. When Karl (Darlow) played in the Premier League, he had some really good performances, especially in the (FA) Cup competition.
"There's always lots of speculation in the last days of this transfer window and for a player of his calibre, who was signed more or less as No 1, it's normal that he is perhaps thinking about what to do for the future.
UNCERTAIN FUTURE: Lucas Perri (Image: Michael Regan/Getty Images)placeholder image
UNCERTAIN FUTURE: Lucas Perri (Image: Michael Regan/Getty Images)
"You can't rule anything out but he's currently under contract for us. What will happen in the future, we'll have to wait."
Farke refused to comment on reports Leeds had a second bid for Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk, looking to build his fitness up after a drugs ban, rejected.
"There are always many noises around, especially about Leeds United," he said. “(Mudryk)'s a really good player but I never comment on any speculation or any players who are playing for other teams.
"We've made no secret that we want to give this club the best possible squad and for that, until the last second (of the transfer window) we stay awake. I'm pretty happy with our business so far. "
Ilia Gruev is back in team training, but will not feature by the Trent. Willy Gnonto and Gabriel Gudmundsson are still out.