Goalkeeper James Trafford has expressed surprise at finding himself as the backup to Gianluigi Donnarumma since his return to Manchester City. Trafford rejoined the Etihad club in July from Burnley in a substantial £31 million ($42m) deal. Initially, he started the first three Premier League matches of the season, notably ahead of established keepers Éderson and Stefan Ortega.

However, the situation drastically changed on deadline day with the arrival of Italian international Gianluigi Donnarumma from Paris Saint-Germain. Since Donnarumma's transfer, Trafford has not started a single league game, a development he admits was not part of his expectations when he signed. "I didn't expect the situation to happen, but it happened, so just get on with it," Trafford stated, emphasizing his commitment to working hard daily and giving his best shot.

Despite speculation that Trafford, who reportedly turned down Newcastle to rejoin City, was promised the No.1 spot under Pep Guardiola, he clarified that this was not the case. He acknowledged, however, that the actual outcome did not align with the original plan. "No, it wasn't that, but it [the plan] wasn't what happened," he explained. Trafford views the experience as another learning opportunity in his career, stating that it's football and one must continue grafting every day.

Since Donnarumma's integration into the squad, Trafford's playing time has been restricted primarily to domestic cup competitions and a single Champions League fixture against Bayer Leverkusen. This limited game time has raised concerns about his potential inclusion in the England squad for the upcoming World Cup. While he hasn't directly discussed the sufficiency of his game time with the national team, Trafford remains focused on performing as well as he can whenever he plays and training diligently every day, understanding that his situation is widely known.