He’s seen off Pope, Hart.. now he wants England gloves again
AFTER Ben Foster last week it was Tom Heaton’s turn to stake his claim for the title of best English goalkeeper around right now.
Burnley keeper Heaton’s response was a brilliant display at Brighton which earned him a man-of-thematch award.
And he was never going to drop that, given his form, as he juggled it between his hands while conducting media duties.
It has been a long road back to this point for Heaton. Much longer and more frustrating than he could have imagined when he dislocated his shoulder in September 2017.
First he lost his place for club and country to Nick Pope.
Then, when Pope suffered a similar injury at the start of this season, Heaton found his route back into the team blocked by another England stopper – Joe Hart.
The 32-year-old ended up having to wait until the end of December to regain his Premier League place and his return has coincided with Burnley’s best unbeaten top-flight run since 1975 of seven games. Club captain Heaton laughed off the idea he is the reason for the Clarets’ upturn, instead preferring to share the credit with his team-mates.
Former Brighton strikers, two-goal Chris Wood and Ashley Barnes, who scored before Shane Duffy’s consolation, certainly deserve some of the plaudits for firing Burnley to victory at the Amex.
But Heaton was their star man with a string of firsthalf stops and he believes he has returned not just a better goalkeeper but person too after his spell on the outside looking in.
He said: “It has been an interesting journey. There has certainly been a bit of growth for myself. I am a little bit more resilient.
“I was never down, just frustrated career-wise. I always try to have a perspective and that is something I probably learnt.
“There are more important things in life. Health, family, people. I love football every day. I’ve got a real hunger for it but I can separate the two now which is probably something that I needed.”
With all three of Gareth Southgate’s World Cup goalkeepers encountering their own difficulties this season, Heaton’s return could be timely ahead of next month’s international break.
Asked if he will be sending a copy of his firsthalf display on to Southgate, Heaton laughed: “No, no, no. There’ll be none of that going on.
“Obviously I hope he’ll pick it up but if he doesn’t, he doesn’t. It’s important that next week you’re ready to go again.
“I harbour ambitions to be back involved with England. I can’t shy away from that. But there is a lot of water to go under the bridge yet.
“What’s important for me is focusing day in, day out. Getting the performances right and seeing where that takes us.”