James Trafford impressed for Manchester City in their Carabao Cup victory over Newcastle United on Wednesday night.
09:29, 05 Feb 2026Updated 12:33, 05 Feb 2026
James Trafford made several important saves in Manchester City’s Carabao Cup win over Newcastle
As the clock ticked past the half-hour mark, Manchester City went from one end of the pitch to the other in the blur of blue to plant two feet in the Carabao Cup final. There was still an hour of the game to go but Tijjani Reijnders had just side-footed City into a 3-0 Etihad lead and a 5-0 aggregate advantage.
Less than a minute before the ball rippled the net, Kieran Trippier had been standing over a free kick in a dangerous position as Newcastle sought a route back into a game that was already slipping away.
His effort was saved by James Trafford, who then quickly bowled the ball out and set City on their way to a third. It was a routine enough stop from the Cumbrian but his performance showcased the ability that persuaded City to swoop for his signature last summer when a move to Newcastle from Burnley seemed likely.
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Weeks later, Pep Guardiola added Gianluigi Donnarumma to his ranks and Trafford slipped to second in the pecking order. He seems likely to seek a move away in the summer but he could do so with silverware with the England international poised to start next month’s Carabao Cup final against Arsenal.
And if City do go on to lift the trophy, Trafford will have more than played his part. On Wednesday night alone, with the Blues one up, he made two super stops.
Seconds after Omar Marmoush opened the scoring, Trafford raced out to meet Joe Willock as Newcastle inexplicably carved out a three-on-one. The odds were against the City stopper but he not only reacted well to reach the ball first, he also managed to smother it at the second attempt to prevent a rebound.
Midway through the half the home ‘keeper did well to spread himself and keep out an Anthony Gordon effort, while in the closing stages of the first period he clawed away a Sven Botman header.
The moments are likely to get lost in a commanding aggregate victory but they didn’t go unnoticed by his manager.
“I said from the beginning he is a top ‘keeper,” said Guardiola after the game. “He has an incredible future ahead of him. He is going to play in the first Carabao Cup final for him.”
He added: “At 1-0 he made that first save, he is incredible. Today in modern football you have to have two exceptional ‘keepers in the team because you never know what will happen. The ‘keeper is a special position. He is an incredible guy, exceptional. I am so happy for him.”
Trafford will be happy to have the chance to again show his credentials when City take on Arsenal in the Wembley final next month, even if his long-term future, once again, looks to be away from the Etihad.
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