Trafford is Howe's kind of character

ANOTHER goalkeeper, really? Yet there is a reason why Newcastle United have retained a strong interest in Burnley shot-stopper James Trafford.

- By LEE RYDER

This is a player who looks destined to become an England number one in the right hands.

Newcastle's recruitment team have long recognised that - even after the 22-year-old's bruising debut season in the Premier League: a 2023/24 campaign which saw Trafford concede 61 goals in just 28 top-flight fixtures before being dropped.

It was rather telling that Trafford bounced back, however, after Burnley were relegated.

The goalkeeper equalled the record for the most clean sheets (29) in English football, recorded the most consecutive shutouts (12) in Championship history, conceded just 16 goals and saved a whopping 84.5% of the shots he faced as Burnley earned promotion back to the top-flight.