Yahoo News Newcastle United deal 'deserves more faith' as eye-watering CV catches the eye elsewhere
Newcastle United are to all intents and purposes poised in the blocks with the starting gun heralding the off in the transfer shopping trolley charge on Friday June 14. Then in a second wave of foot races the international and free transfer deals can be officially registered from July 1.
United it would appear are ready for the double challenge. Spadework done, pen and ink at the elbow. Burnley's bright young keeper James Trafford looks to be heading what we hope is an relatively lengthy queue of new recruits willing to add their weight to a cause which needs to be kick started once again.
Then when it comes to the bargain basement, the free transfer gems, Lloyd Kelly is our man.
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Geordies are prepared to lay out the welcome mat for Kelly, who is backed by impressive credentials. A young performer of infinite ability, blessed with style and substance, of an age at 25 that brings experience and the promise of years of service, and arriving on a free is the perfect fit when it comes to FFP. He plays centre defence or left-back where United desperately need help to right an awful record. Leadership skills are underpinned by his appointment as the Cherries captain early in his footballing life. So many boxes have been ticked. But.....
There is always a 'but' of course and here it is that after a Newcastle season blighted by injury crisis upon injury crisis Kelly's career so far has been blighted by, well, injury. Just as that of another fine footballer brought from Bournemouth Callum Wilson. Lloyd missed 17 games last season due to three separate injuries on top of another 18 during 2022-23.
Oh, the worry of a repeat which is absolutely natural. The greatest player in the world is of little help when sat in the treatment room and then the stand on match day.
So many have walked that path of late not just Wilson. We have lost the considerable services for never-ending periods of the likes of Nick Pope, Joelinton, Joe Willock, Elliot Anderson, and Harvey Barnes. Yet another, Sven Botman, will still be out come next season along with Jamaal Lascelles until the back end of the year.
However we must look on the bright side of life. We must believe that lightning cannot keep striking in exactly the same way (can it?) We must put faith in Eddie Howe not being coloured by the fact that he was impressed so much by Kelly that he shelled out a considerable £13m for him back in 2019 but having been stung repeatedly to the extent that Europe was sacrificed will not readily tread the fitness path of risk.
Let me repeat lest some think Kelly deserves more faith. His talent and all about him is unquestioned. The boy has pedigree backed by real character.
Brought up in various Bristol foster homes with his brother and sister from the age of seven he turned what could be perceived as a disadvantage into a true positive. "It was the making of me," insists Lloyd.
His ability was recognised by England at Under 20 and 21 level and at 6ft 3in tall he is joining a defence compiled almost exclusively of giants with the added bonus of confident ability in possession. Kelly certainly lives up to his middle name of Casius punching his full weight. Welcome to a land of black and white. May you enjoy rude health.
Now let us look at Trafford and it is the same tale of anticipation at an even more youthful player of limitless potential arriving on our doorstep while it must be admitted he too is carrying the smallest of reservations.
Trafford's CV is eye watering. From Cumbrian farming stock he began as a bairn with Carlisle United but left before he began to shave to join the famed academy of Manchester City no less where his grounding was perfect.
He won many stripes through England's age groups which admittedly another keeper of our acquaintance Freddie Woodman did without reaching the stars but Trafford actually made Gareth Southgate's full Euro 2024 squad instead of Nick Pope before being understandably left out when the cut came.
A tiny reservation did I say? Well, at only 21 years of age which is desperately young and inexperienced for a keeper Burnley boss Vincent Kompany dropped James from his struggling side for the final 10 games of a season that inevitably ended in relegation after a few mistakes crept into his play and the crowd turned twitchy.
That leads to the question of how much immediate pressure he will put on Pope. Certainly given his tender years it would appear that despite what will be said at his official unveiling he is being bought to initially understudy Pope rather than immediately challenge him for the No.1 spot as Valencia's Giogi Mamardashvili would have done from the first day of walking through the SJP portals.
This is a more inexperienced version for the not too distant future therefore available at a cheaper price than the La Liga stopper which can free up money elsewhere but at the same time despite his Turf Moor hiccup indications are that confidence can be repaired and a swagger return. James is a young man who previously has never been short of belief and a keeper must have that.
United have gone down such a visionary path before with Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall and the outcome in their case appears to have turned rosy. Let JT be a repeat.
His arrival will be welcomed because United have precious little beneath Pope with Martin Dubravka bound for pastures new at the end of loyal service gratefully received and the almost invisible Loris Karius having given up his dressing-room peg.
Now let the good times roll. Let United add a centre-forward, right winger, and right sided central defender to their recruitment drive. The foot must stay on the accelerator.
