Transfer target's 'honest' response that Newcastle will love after 'a lot of tough times'

Newcastle United target James Trafford has insisted that he 'wouldn't have changed anything' following a challenging first season in the Premier League because you 'grow the most in the tough times'.

Trafford had never previously played in the Championship - let alone the top-flight - when the goalkeeper joined Burnley from Manchester City last summer. However, it shows how highly Burnley rated Trafford that the Clarets were prepared to potentially break their transfer record to bring the shot-stopper to Turf Moor for a fee that could rise to £19m if various add-ons are met.

It is worth remembering that Trafford arrived at Burnley fresh from playing a key role in England under-21s winning the Euros for the first time in nearly four decades. Trafford became the first goalkeeper ever to not concede in six games at the tournament and even saved a stoppage-time penalty and the subsequent rebound in the Young Lions' 1-0 win against Spain in the final.

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However, following the highs of that summer, Trafford endured a testing first season at Burnley. Trafford conceded an average of more than two goals per game in a leaky side and the goalkeeper could only watch on as the Clarets were relegated after he was dropped for the final 10 matches of the season. However, Trafford is known for his ability to deal with setbacks and the 21-year-old clearly learned a lot from his first top-flight campaign.

“They weren’t always good experiences," the Cumbrian told Farmers Weekly this week. "There were a lot of tough times. But you grow the most in the tough times. I honestly wouldn’t have changed anything for the world.”

That response won't come as a surprise to Newcastle's recruitment team, who pay close attention to the character of targets and how they handle adversity. The mooted fees are very different but before Bournemouth signed Aaron Ramsdale for just £800,000, for instance, Andy Howe, who is Newcastle's current assistant head of recruitment, wanted to see how the goalkeeper coped with making a mistake, which is all the more important when scouting young shot-stoppers.