Jordan Pickford has been England's primary goalkeeper for a decade, but a new challenge has emerged. In a recent Nations League match against Spain, Leeds' James Trafford made his competitive debut under manager Thomas Tuchel, who announced the pair will each play two consecutive matches during the international break. Trafford, 23, signed for Leeds in a deal worth up to £45m and impressed with his distribution and a key save, though England lost 3-2.

His strong start to the season has helped Leeds reach fifth in the Premier League. Trafford previously played for Burnley and Manchester City, where he gained valuable experience despite limited opportunities. He also contributed to England's U21 European Championship win in 2023.

Tuchel stated the rotation is intended to assess Trafford's capabilities at the senior level, while acknowledging Pickford has done nothing wrong.