‘Something special’ - Burnley legend gives Newcastle United seal of approval on £30m wonderkid
Burnley striker Ashley Barnes believes James Trafford is good enough to dislodge Jordan Pickford as England goalkeeper.
Newcastle United are understood to be weighing up a summer approach for the 22-year-old following a failed pursuit last year. PSR restrictions forced the Magpies’ hand amid talk of a potential £16million deal.
That figure has increased due to Trafford’s heroics this season as Burnley challenge for Premier League promotion. The shot-stopper has kept a staggering 24 clean sheets from 33 Championship games, with The Sun claiming Burnley would now demand £30million.
Clarets veteran Barnes has called Trafford “special” and could stake his name to be England No.1 - a positive appraisal for Newcastle. A former youth international, the goalie was part of the Young Lions setup - alongside Anthony Gordon - that won the under-21s Euros in 2023.
“Traff is another one that I can add to the list to say how good he really is. He is something special and has got every attribute,” Barnes told SportsBoom. “I can’t see why he can’t be in that starting XI for the national team.”
“For him though at the moment, he is just concentrating on playing week in, week out getting us out of this division. But he is one for the future, for sure. He’s a great kid. He has been phenomenal between the sticks but, as a unit, the back four or five have been brilliant as a unit.
“First and foremost, we defend as a team and attack as a team. That's just everyone's way of working here. You have to be on it every day otherwise you're not going to play. That's down to the manager to have that competition.
“So, obviously it's a big team collective but it always helps when you do have a good goalie in the net. Of course, I am scoring against him all the time in training but don’t tell him that, he will get upset.”