FEELING THE HEAT
Tom aims to snatch United No.1 spot
TOM HEATON insists he has not returned to Manchester United simply to make up the numbers.
Heaton, who spent eight years at United without playing a game, came back to the club this summer as a free agent after spells at clubs including Burnley and Aston Villa.
He is third-choice keeper behind Dean Henderson and David De Gea but is determined to stake his claim for a starting place and impressed in a 45-minute outing during Sunday’s 2-1 friendly win at Derby.
“That’s the plan,” said Heaton, 35. “I’ve a fair bit of experience under my belt so I think I can add a different dimension to the department.
“I’m aware of the challenge here. There are some fantastic goalkeepers here but, personally, of course you come here and want to try and get in the team.
“That’s what I’ll be trying to do, but at the same time making sure there’s a support and an element of competitiveness throughout the department.”
United are on a week-long training camp in Surrey before their next preseason encounter at QPR on Saturday.
“For me, it was great to get started after seven weeks off,” added Heaton. “With the Euros, it was quite a long summer if you weren’t involved in it. It was nice to get back out there and meet a few of the boys.
“I’m starting to get a good relationship with a few of the young boys, which has been nice.
“It’s not always possible when you join up with the first-team squad, so that’s been good.
“You build those relationships, find out how people work. So it should be a really good week.”
United’s transfer budget will not allow them to meet Real Madrid’s £50m valuation of centre-back Raphael Varane, meaning a compromise must be met if he is to move to Old Trafford.