James Trafford has described his return to Manchester City as a tough education, conceding that the transfer decision "hasn't been the best possible outcome" — yet insisting he has done everything possible to stay positive throughout a difficult campaign.

The 23-year-old goalkeeper rejoined City from Burnley in the summer and began the season as first choice, starting the opening three Premier League fixtures. His opportunities dried up almost immediately, however, after manager Pep Guardiola moved to sign Italy captain Gianluigi Donnarumma from Paris St-Germain on deadline day in September.

Since then, Trafford has been restricted almost entirely to cup appearances, a situation he has found both challenging and instructive.

"It has obviously been very up and down throughout the season because I haven't played too much and obviously I had a decision to make in the summer. Everyone always thinks when you make decisions [for] the best possible outcome and obviously it hasn't been the best possible outcome, but I have just tried to improve every day and just try and stay positive, try and stay happy," Trafford told BBC Sport.

He added that the overriding priority has been protecting his own wellbeing: "Throughout the year it has been such a big learning experience so the main thing I didn't want is for it to impact your general happiness and your general feeling."

Cup heroics keeping Trafford sharp

Despite his limited league involvement, Trafford has made the most of the opportunities available to him. He delivered a composed performance as City defeated Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley, keeping a clean sheet to help secure the trophy.

He also saved a Mohamed Salah penalty against Liverpool in the previous FA Cup round and is expected to start Saturday's semi-final against Southampton — a run that has taken City as far as possible in both domestic cup competitions this season.

"Everyone enjoys the bigger games, the tougher games," Trafford said, "but I might be speaking differently if we got beaten in them."

Trafford is no stranger to high-stakes moments. In the 2023 Under-21 European Championship final, he saved a last-minute penalty to help England's Young Lions beat Spain and claim the title for the first time in nearly 40 years. Last season, his 29 clean sheets in 45 Championship matches earned him the PFA Championship Player of the Year award — the first goalkeeper to receive that honour — as he helped Scott Parker's Burnley earn immediate top-flight promotion.

World Cup ambitions driving the keeper on

Trafford received his senior England debut last month in a friendly draw against Uruguay, and with the summer World Cup on the horizon, he is acutely aware of how much the remaining weeks of the season matter.

"Obviously I want to try and make the squad. It will be a great experience for me," he said. "I have got the games where I play to just try and do my best to try and make the squad."

The backdrop to all of this is a City side surging back into title contention. A 1-0 win over Burnley on Wednesday lifted them above Arsenal to the top of the Premier League — the first time they have led the table since the opening weekend. Having already won the Carabao Cup, Guardiola's side remain in the hunt for a second domestic treble.

Trafford is fully behind the cause. "Hopefully, that's the aim," he said. "We can only win every game that we are involved in. It would obviously be tough but we have got a great squad and we have got full belief that we could do it."

Europa League semi-finalists Aston Villa have reportedly shown an interest in signing Trafford in the summer, with Guardiola having already acknowledged earlier this year that the goalkeeper's situation is "special" and that "we will see what happens" at the end of the season.