Trafford sets sights on Bolton promotion
JAMES Trafford is aiming to win promotion with Bolton during his season-long loan from City.
The 19-year-old keeper is back at Wanderers after spending the second half of last season with the Whites.
Bolton finished ninth in League One last season in their first campaign after winning promotion from the fourth tier.
This season, they have their sights set on returning to the Championship.
And Trafford believes the club’s form in the second half of last season – during which they lost only three times in 22 games – bodes well for the new campaign as the Cumbrian teenager seeks to develop his game further.
“Obviously I’ve came here to try and get promoted,” said the keeper.
“But there’s no point keep going on about it because everyone knows we want to try and get promoted.
“But we showed with the form at the end of last season that we can hang with the best teams in the league.
“We did well, so getting promoted is obviously what I’ve come here to do. I’m really looking forward to the season and just building relationships with everyone and everyone building on the challenges that we have.
“I’m really excited to develop and I’ve got my goals and challenges that I’m going to have.
“But I’m really looking forward to it. I’m still young but I’m enjoying playing men’s football and just playing games.”
Meanwhile, Trafford’s team-mate at City Gavin Bazunu is set to be named a Southampton player as he is close to completing a move to the south coast club.
The Republic of Ireland international will join Saints in a deal worth around £15m, having spent last season on loan with their close rivals Portsmouth.
The Blues are said to have a buy-back clause for the 20-year-old, who has impressed both at club and international level in the past 12 months.
Southampton have been looking for a new keeper following Fraser Forster’s move to Tottenham earlier this month.