![]() "We had to manage him in that respect, but I knew that was just him expressing himself and enjoying himself, and I could empathise. Image: James Trafford had two loan spells with Bolton There were days I had to keep him inside or send him back in. He would be out kicking balls for half an hour or even start taking penalties. "Sometimes he wanted to do different things to what I'd put on. "He could be a bit of a teenager," chuckles Gilks. Gilks relished watching Trafford flourish and they remain in contact now - "I was jumping around the living room when he made the save against Spain" - but the headstrong youngster had to be reined in at times. That is not to say it was without hiccups. He had to get used to that, but the more games he played, the more he grew in confidence, in himself, in the team, and vice-versa. But when you get in front of hairy men in League One who have got really powerful shots, it's very different. "When you're playing for Manchester City in academy football, it's all very neat and tidy in front of you. We tried to tidy up parts of his game, but mostly it was just making him understand the league. "He was a big, confident 'keeper in and around the penalty area, and he was great in the dressing room. "He was like a breath of fresh air when he came in," says Gilks. Image: James Trafford lifted the Football League Trophy with Bolton last season Trafford started every game in what remained of that campaign, then returned for the whole of last season, keeping a club-record nine consecutive home clean sheets between December and February and helping Bolton win the Football League Trophy at Wembley. They had lost four consecutive League One games at the time of his arrival but, with Trafford installed in goal, they won the next four without conceding once. We benefitted massively from his first loan not going so well." "He had an opportunity to do that with us and it all came out of him. "I think it left him feeling he had so much more to offer and that he was better than what he had shown," says Gilks. The youngster had seen a previous loan with Accrington Stanley cut short after losing his place in the side but an experience that might have knocked another young player had the opposite effect on him. Trafford showed that steeliness on his arrival at Bolton midway through the 2021/22 campaign. It's straight on to the next game, the next training session." "When I was his age, I would probably sulk and not speak to anyone for a week, but he just brushes it off. "The way he deals with setbacks, for a young lad, is really good," says Gilks. Image: James Trafford has been part of Manchester City matchday squads
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