Will clean sheet king guide Lions to glory?
James Trafford is on brink of big-money move to Burnley, so…
LEE CARSLEY has backed James Trafford to step up and perform in the Premier League as Burnley tie up a £19million move for the England Under 21 goalkeeper.
Trafford has kept four consecutive clean sheets on England’s run to tonight’s European Championship semi-final against Israel, with a host of clubs having tracked his progress all summer.
Vincent Kompany’s Clarets stole a march on the Manchester City academy graduate, who spent last season on loan at League One Bolton Wanderers.
Burnley are set to pay £15m up front, with £4m in add- ons and City will insert a buyback clause. Trafford, a confident 20-year-old, has shone at the Euros and his ability on the ball has matched his authoritative goalkeeping.
‘James has shown this tournament that he is a high-level goalkeeper who is very consistent,’ said Carsley. ‘ It is fair to say he has been very impressive in training and the lads have been very impressed with his level of consistency. I am sure he will have a big future.
‘We’ve shown with a lot of our players, like Morgan Gibbs-White and Anthony Gordon, that the price tags that go with younger players now is the norm. This group of players take that in their stride. I think they are very level-headed and humble.’
England have a golden chance to reach a first Euros final since 2009 but are without star midfielder Jacob Ramsey, who flew home yesterday morning.
The Aston Villa midfielder injured his left ankle during the 1-0 win over Portugal and is heading for a specialist to determine whether he requires surgery.
Harvey Elliott and Emile Smith Rowe are vying for Ramsey’s spot and Carsley is without suspended full backs Max Aarons and Ben Johnson. Israel have problems of their own, with quarter-final penalty hero Daniel Peretz — who saved two spotkicks in beating hosts Georgia in a shootout — suspended after picking up two bookings. Dynamic midfielder Eden Karzev is also banned, while dangerman Oscar Gloukh, of Red Bull Salzburg, should cause problems.
‘I told the players that they are the children of the revolution of Israeli sport,’ Israel boss Guy
Luzon said. ‘We are in the big four of Europe. I am so proud.’
Carsley is deliberating over Smith Rowe or Elliott, the latter back in training after leaving camp for a family engagement at the weekend. Alongside Gordon, two-goal Smith Rowe will have eyes on the golden boot.
‘ What we’ve tried to do is remove the pressure from Emile,’ Carsley added. ‘It’s important that he enjoys his football and plays with confidence and a smile. Wearing the No 10 at Arsenal is a tough thing, especially with the history that shirt has got.
‘I don’t think it has weighed him down, but I think there is a pressure that goes with it, which he has shown he can handle. Since he has been in camp, he has been outstanding in every session.’