'Level-headed' Leeds United star James Trafford draws praise from Whites legend Nigel Martyn
Leeds United legend Nigel Martyn has saluted Whites goalkeeper James Trafford
Leeds United star James Trafford has drawn praise from Whites legend Nigel Martyn.
Trafford was a £40m acquisition for Leeds in the summer transfer window and has made a stellar start to life in West Yorkshire.
He has looked incredibly assured between the sticks and is vying with Jordan Pickford for the number one spot in the England set-up.
Martyn, a former Three Lions international who was Leeds’ stopper of choice between 1996 and 2002, has saluted Trafford’s mentality.
Nigel Martyn salutes James Trafford
He told The i: “It’s been a good start from James and he’s clearly someone who Leeds’ defenders have confidence in. They know they have someone behind them who they can trust to do his job and make the saves he needs to make.
“You don’t see James shouting and bawling and that helps your teammates to relax and rely on you. He’s very level-headed and I haven’t seen any mistakes from him yet.
“I’d maybe like him to clear the ball a bit quicker when he’s getting closed down, but he seems so laidback and at ease with himself that it’s probably best to just let him get on with it.”
The battle to be England’s number one
The number one spot at Elland Road is Trafford’s to lose, but he is still in the chasing position at international level.
Martyn said: “What James has to do is to keep performing for Leeds and take any opportunities with England.
“That would put pressure on Jordan, who’s still playing very well and moving to an age where he’s probably going to be his most consistent and my early 30s were certainly my peak time.
“Jordan will probably stay as number one for now and I know James won’t want to hear that – but he’s clearly on a very good path at Leeds so long may it continue.”