Cumbrian goalkeeper James Trafford kept a clean sheet to help England’s Under-21s make a winning start to their Euro campaign.

Trafford denied the Czech Republic with an impressive showing as Lee Carsley’s young Lions claimed a 2-0 victory in their group stage opener.

Second-half goals from Aston Villa's Jacob Ramsey and Arsenal's Emile Smith-Rowe were enough for England to start the tournament on a winning note.

That came after Trafford had excelled with a fine save that denied Vasil Kusej in the goalless first half.

The 20-year-old Manchester City prospect, from Greysouthen, got the nod from head coach Carsley as England’s first-choice keeper for the tournament.

His fellow Cumbrian, Jarrad Branthwaite, was an unused substitute for the group opener in Batumi, Georgia.

England will now aim to build on their positive start when they take on Israel in their second group game on Sunday, before a clash with Germany next Wednesday.

Trafford’s showing came on a day when he was again linked with Premier League new boys Burnley.

Football Insider report that Clarets boss Vincent Kompany is an admirer of the former Carlisle United academy keeper and a £20m deal is being pursued.

Such a deal would be likely to benefit the Blues through the terms of Trafford’s move from Carlisle to Man City when he was 12, with any deal structured through the detail of the Elite Player Performance Plan system.

The former Cockermouth youngster impressed on loan with Bolton Wanderers in League One last season.