Wanderers have added another leading young player to their squad with the loan signing of Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford.
Trafford – who has been capped by England age groups up to Under-20 level – has joined Wanderers on loan for the rest of the season.
The 19-year-old will add to competition within the Whites’ senior goalkeeping ranks alongside Joel Dixon and Luke Hutchinson.
With Matt Gilks now concentrating on his role as first-team goalkeeping coach, Wanderers’ manager Ian Evatt has moved swiftly to bring in Trafford to widen his options for the remainder of the campaign.
And Evatt is delighted to have landed a player with the pedigree of Trafford, who as well as his international background and previous loan experience in League One, has played for City’s U23s in the Papa John’s Trophy and made it as far as the bench at Premier League level under Pep Guardiola.
“I’ve seen James play a fair bit and watched him play for England a few times,” said Evatt.
“With Chris Markham (Wanderers’ Technical Performance Director) coming from the FA we know people who have done a lot of work with James and how highly thought of he is within the England group and with Manchester City.
“We’re very lucky to have him and for Manchester City trusting us with him and we think he’ll make a difference to us.
“He’s only young but he’s a real leader, a big boy, an aggressive boy and we’re fortunate to have him in the building to help us until the end of the season.”
Trafford, who becomes Wanderers’ fourth transfer-window recruit following the signings of Dion Charles and Aaron Morley and Fulham loan defender Marlon Fossey, is highly rated at City, where he has been since the age of 12.
Rising through the ranks with the Premier League champions, Trafford helped City’s Elite Development Squad run away with the Premier League 2 title last season.
The Cumbria-born keeper – who will wear squad number 19 – made 11 appearances in League One on loan at Accrington Stanley earlier this season and will be available for Wanderers for Saturday’s visit of Ipswich Town after ending his temporary stay with the Reds.