‘Huge potential’ - Newcastle United want ‘future England star’ as £103m masterplan pays off

Two penalty saves to deny Wilson Isidor kept the game goalless and earned the Clarets a vital point at the top of the Championship table. Had the Black Cats won, they would have leapfrogged Burnley into third place.

Trafford’s stunning saves went down well on Tyneside given the bitter feud between Newcastle and Sunderland. Ironically, he could have pleased his future supporters, with the Magpies understood to maintain an interest in the young goalkeeper.

Toon chiefs saw a £16million offer turned down but are still reportedly keeping interest from an arm’s length. Eddie Howe has gained a reputation for delivering youth English talent, with £103million trio Anthony Gordon, Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall making their senior international debuts as Newcastle players.

NewcastleWorld: Essential is our weekly newsletter, delivering the city’s best bits to you inbox - sign up here

Former United captain Parker believes Trafford - who played alongside Gordon at under-21 level - has the ability to become an England regular. He said: “I think so. In terms of what we’ve seen from him, this is a boy with absolutely humongous potential. I still think there’s so much more to come from him.

“I’ve got nothing but positives to say about James. When I first came in there were some struggles and he came out the back of a season last year that was difficult for Traf, a young boy, going into that division, he had some hard times.

“But this is a special keeper with absolutely huge potential. You see that confidence. He believes in himself and to get to that top, top level you have to have that certain belief, that arrogance. He’s got that and he backs it up.

“Over the last four or five months we’ve seen him mature, understanding certain things and (you see that) in the way he went about what he needed to do. He was a guy in the spotlight tonight and I get the impression Traf loved every second of that.”