James Trafford has always been good with his hands.
At the moment they are most discussed in football, with the Burnley keeper, 22, who did not admit for a thousand minutes.
And he has only left nine goals throughout the season, and keeps 23 clean sheets.
And tonight, while Burnley Sheffield Wednesday is host, the Sky Bet Championship Player of the month before January – strives for an incredible 12th consecutive shutout.
But those safe hands are put on other use – such as the back of sheep or mixing manure with lime!
Trafford was brought up and worked on a farm in the Lake District, targeted by North Cumbrian, where his tasks include lambs and unfolds.
And he grinned when he told Sunsport: “The first time I lambed was 11 years old. I had to put my hand up and pull.
“That was far too disgusting and, although it was cool to have experienced that, it was not the best.
“I also had to cross out. We mixed manure with lime to get the correct pH -acid degree from the soil. And being in the slurry well was terrible – the smell.
“Only last summer did I help to wrap Fleeces and cut sheep.”
Trafford – raised in Cockkermouth, where England -Testapitein Ben Stokes even lived during his teenage years – even tractors on the farm years before he had a driver's license.
He laughed: “About 14 or 15, long before I was allowed on the roads.”
Despite its growing reputation as one of Europe's best talents for keepers, with a large number of Premier League clubs in the hope of breaking him, the young person still likes to keep his hands dirty on the farm.
He said: “I enjoy it. I do it to spend more time with Dad, because I always have lunch with my mother when I go home and he is always working.
“When I was with Dad last month, I was already putting the sheep bed and hay for those outside.
“We have always done that. I remember that as a child I would sit on the tractor on the chair and I would be on the arm test, and our dog would be down there. “
Trafford revealed that if his grandfather had his way, he would have been a jockey.
The 6ft 6 in keeper said: “Grandpa Bill, God bless his soul. I have two cousins and then my sister and me.
“Grandpa always said,” He must be a farmer, “but he really wanted one of us to be a jockey – but we were all too long!”
His father James Sr was never a football expert, but learned by viewing YouTube videos and going to his son's games.
Trafford said: “He now even uses football terminology and I think:” You haven't thought about this yet, you've just listened and repeated it. “
“But Dad thinks it's great for me. As long as I am happy, he is happy. “
Trafford developed a strong working ethics from his years on the farm that came in handy when he progressed through the Academy of Manchester City after he was signed from Carlisle at the age of 12 -.
And he then played on loan in Accrington Stanley and Bolton, where he won the EFL trophy by beating Plymouth in Wembley in 2023 before he played in the Prem last season after Burnley signed him in a deal of £ 19 million.
Chelsea and England star Cole Palmer had seen so much of Trafford's Heroics as teammates who grew up in the city that he was recorded on the touchline that predicted his old friend, would save the late stop-time penalty from Spain in the Euro Under-21s final In Georgia Two years ago.
Not only did he dive to his right to keep the spot kick of Abel Ruiz out, he made an incredible reflex stop from Aimar Oroz's follow-up.
That Save saw the young lions win the trophy – and he became the first keeper in the history of the competition that went through a whole tournament without giving a goal.
And in his recent incredible run he made two late penalty rescuing in the aimless draw from last month against Sunderland in Turf Moor.
Asked if the double penalty hero acts at Turf Moor belonged to one of the best, he said: “All the noise around those rescues has been great, but there are other things because that brought me more fun. Everyone can save a fine. “
Trafford – looking for a summer movement for Newcastle – was mentioned in the most recent English team that stood opposite Ireland and Greece in the Nations League in November.
That was after he was in the provisional World Cup team, but was cut from the last party.
His call-up came after he was taught by the then Clarets manager Vincent Kompany-buts Trafford thinks that made him stronger.
He said: “I was taken out of the team and it was hard to deal with.
“Then I knew I was leaving the national team, I was excited.
“When I returned this season, it was my goal to get to the English team, even though I was in the championship.”
The Boyhood Chelsea fan was happy that the FA appointed ex-blues boss Thomas Tuchel.
He said: “He is a brilliant manager who has won countless things and has received a huge reputation.
“He will be the best man to win the World Cup in 2026.”
Former NFL star JJ Watt promised to retire and play for the favorite team of Trafford, the Cincinnati Bengals at the start of this incredible run, if he admits no other goal this season.
There are still 13 games left and Trafford said, “If it goes on a few figures, he must be worried!”
If he reaches 13 clean sheets, you can bet that Trafford will continue to talk about this season until the cows come home!
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