Man City goalkeeper bags assist as dream start to loan continues

30.01.2022 - 19:40 / manchestereveningnews.co.uk

James Trafford can boast an assist as well as three clean sheets as his dream start on loan at Bolton Wanderers continues.

The Manchester City goalkeeper spent the first half of the season at Accrington Stanley in League One to give him experience of regular first team football after shadowing Ederson and Zack Steffen last year. But after seeing his minutes dry up in recent months, the 19-year-old stopper opted to move to a different north-west club in the same division.

A new start at Bolton has been exactly what Trafford wanted and the goalkeeper couldn't have asked for more from his opening three games. Clean sheets against Ipswich and Shrewsbury helped the team to six points and a third clean sheet against promotion-chasing Sunderland was also accompanied by an assist as his kick downfield fell perfectly for Dion Charles to chip the Black Cats goalkeeper and kickstart a 6-0 rout.

Trafford already has more clean sheets from three games with Bolton than he managed in 11 matches with Accrington, and will look to continue his dream start at Bolton as the Trotters look to climb the table. They currently sit 14th - eight places and 14 points off the play-offs - but are the only team in the division to have won their last three matches.

As well as Trafford, City have another promising goalkeeper on loan in the division. Gavin Bazunu will remain at Portsmouth for the second half of the season and has also impressed playing for Republic of Ireland, including saving a penalty from Cristiano Ronaldo.