Ian Evatt feels James Trafford has been ‘outstanding’ for Bolton Wanderers in his loan spell away from Manchester City as he believes all parties have been helped with the transfer.

Trafford has been on loan from City since January at Wanderers and has impressed inbetween the sticks at Wanderers, becoming the club’s first choice goalkeeper.

He has played 19 times for Evatt’s side and the latest came in the Good Friday win on the road over Doncaster Rovers.

READ MORE: ‘Looked a man out there’ – Manchester City goalkeeper’s exciting progress at Bolton Wanderers

Bolton took the lead after the break thanks for Amadou Bakayoko slotting home after being found in the box by Jon Dadi Bodvarsson.

The hosts got back on level terms thanks to substitute Mipo Odubeko smashing past James Trafford to give Donny hope.

But Wanderers scored not long after when former Donny man Kieran Sadlier fired home a marvellous volley from Dapo Afolayan’s pass to ensure the visitors took home the three points.

The performance from Trafford was perhaps his most dominant yet from Wanderers, especially when claiming crosses and being on the front foot.

Evatt is pleased with how Trafford has developed while out on loan from City and that the move has benefitted all parties.

He said: “We’re probably going back a long time and a while now, but I do feel like today it was the most dominant I’ve seen him, especially with balls and crosses coming in to the box.

“I was really pleased with how front footed he was and aggressive. He’s a young player that’s improving all the time and we’ve got a great goalie coach in Matt Gilks that’s doing lots of work with him and improving that side of his game, and obviously the vocal side of it which Matt was so good at.

“We’re delighted with him. I think he’s been outstanding for us and I think it’s helped both parties really. I think we’ve developed Man City’s asset and he’s really enjoyed his football but also we’ve got the goods of him coming in and being solid and making saves like he did today and performances like that.”

Since Ricardo Almeida Santos has been out, Will Aimson has deputised in the heart of defence for Wanderers who miss their influential captain.

They are big shoes to fill, both literally and metaphorically, but Evatt has been overjoyed with the contribution made by Aimson in the past couple of games, who he feels has never let Wanderers down whenever he has played.

He said: “They are huge shoes to fill, literally! But I’ve been delighted with him. He’s never let us down.

“He’s improved and grew into the role and he’s becoming a leader in the dressing room and I thought today the way the players defended the box bar the one moment for the goal, I thought he was outstanding.

“We defended crosses really well. We managed to mark men in the box and not space, which is important, and a good performance from him.”





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