James Trafford accepts he must become a first-choice goalkeeper at club level if he is to ever become England No1.
Trafford played backup to Gianluigi Donnarumma this summer after City signed the Italian late in last summer’s window.
That was despite Trafford having joined City from Burnley earlier in the same window on the understanding from then-manager Pep Guardiola and the club’s recruitment team that he would immediately become their first-choice goalkeeper.
Trafford has said he believes he learned a lot from Guardiola despite playing chiefly in cup competitions. Guardiola has since left City, with ex-Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca to replace him.
Trafford, 23, is at the World Cup as England’s third-choice goalkeeper but has designs on one day becoming No1 — the position 84-cap Jordan Pickford has occupied since 2017.
“Just because you play for a certain club doesn't mean that you automatically play for the national team — you have still got to show your level, you have still got to perform at the highest level,” Trafford said.
“When I did move, if I had become England's number one for the tournament, it would have been brilliant. I'd have been very happy, but obviously I didn't. They obviously ended up signing Gigi, and I didn't play the majority of the games, and that’s football.”
Asked whether being No1 at club level is imperative for being given the same role with England, the goalkeeper said: “History says yeah. I think there hasn’t been a goalie start for any of the top nations that isn't a No1 at the club, so going off history, I'd say yes.
“You never know, whether I move, whether I don't move, I do what's right for me and my career.”
Trafford said of his role at this World Cup, “No one's an idiot. The whole goal is to win the World Cup, so everyone is going to do their best to try and win the World Cup and whether that's you play every single minute or don't play a minute, everyone is here to support each other to win the World Cup, because what a massive achievement it is to win the World Cup.
“It only happens every four years. That means everyone pushing towards the same goal.”
