- James Trafford will replace Sam Johnstone in the England squad
- The keeper was dropped for Burnley’s last match against Brentford
- England’s Euro 2004 team was incredible on paper but they didn’t win. Can this crop do it this summer? Listen to the It’s All Kicking Off podcast
Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford has been moved up to the England senior squad ahead of Tuesday’s friendly against Belgium.
Mail Sport understands that the stopper will come in as a replacement for Sam Johnstone, who has left the camp due to an elbow injury.
The injury is not a serious one but it has been decided that it is best for Johnstone to return to Crystal Palace for the remainder of the international break.
The news comes just one week after Trafford was dropped for the first time this season, having previously been the only Burnley player to play in every minute of every league game.
Sections of the Burnley fanbase had been calling for Vincent Komany to make the change for some time and he did so with Arijanet Muric coming in for the 2-1 win over Brentford.
Vincent Kompany insisted after the game that it was not a big issue.
He said: ‘It’s one of the positions where I have the luxury of having two good players, so at any given time I can make a decision that I think is best for the team.
‘It’s not a big decision, it’s not a difficult decision, it’s just two good players fighting it out and I won’t shy away from having that luxury in as many positions as I can.’
Trafford has played for England’s youth level sides since the age of 16 and has made 17 appearances for the U21 side.
Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.
