Heaton picks up the gauntlet

AFTER Watford’s Ben Foster last week, it was Tom Heaton’s turn to stake his claim for the title of best English goalkeeper right now.

The Burnley captain put in a brilliant display at Brighton that earned him a man-of-the match award. It has been a long road back for Heaton after he dislocated his shoulder in September 2017.

First he lost his place for club and country to Nick Pope. Then when Pope suffered the same injury at the start of this season, Heaton found his route back into the team blocked by another England stopper in Joe Hart.

The 32-year-old had to wait until the end of December to regain his Burnley place, and his return has coincided with the team’s best top-flight unbeaten run since 1975, seven games. Heaton laughed off the idea he is the reason for the upturn, instead preferring to share the credit with his teammates.

Two-goal Chris Wood and Ashley Barnes, who scored before Shane Duffy’s headed consolation, certainly deserve plaudits

But Heaton was the star with a string of first-half stops. “I harbour ambitions to be back involved [with England], but there is a lot of water to go under the bridge yet,” he said. Brighton have been dragged into relegation danger after just one win in their last 11 league games.

They will be watching the results of other contenders but manager Chris Hughton said: “It is only our own results that will make sure we are in this division next year.”

HEATON: Man of the match after string of first-half saves