THE HEAT IS ON
Clarets ace gunning for No.1 spot again
John Richardson TOM HEATON could be excused for feeling he’s on the road to nowhere.
Just 13 months ago he was loving life, being hailed as one of the Premier League’s outstanding stoppers – and a certainty to be included in Gareth Southgate’s squad for the World Cup in Russia.
But now the 32-year-old Burnley and England goalkeeper is engaged in an uphill struggle to regain his place for both club and country.
This followed a sickening dislocated shoulder injury, against Crystal Palace in September last year, that brought Heaton’s journey to a crashing halt.
In his absence, Nick Pope made the Burnley No.1 shirt his own, and also nabbed Heaton’s Three Lions spot.
Slammed
When Pope himself suffered the same horrific injury in a Europa League game in July, the door opened again at last for Heaton – only to be slammed shut when the Clarets signed Joe Hart from Manchester City.
Turf Moor club captain Heaton admitted: “I’m a prime example of how fortunes can change in football.
“Just 16 months back, I was starting for England against France in the Stade de France. That feels like a long time ago now.
“I then suffered one of the worst injuries you can have as a goalkeeper. One of the things that kept me going in those dark early days in the gym, blasting away trying to get fit again, was pushing to make the World Cup squad for Russia.
“I got back to full fitness with around seven or eight games of last season to go.
“But Nick Pope was having a fantastic season after replacing me.
“He was rightly named our player of the year. He’d also broken into the England squad.
“That’s the way football works. I couldn’t have any complaints.
“I had to accept not being in the World Cup squad, but then I was delighted to be placed on standby. I had a fantastic two weeks, as we all prepared for the tournament.”
Harsh reality set in again as England released the standby players, including Heaton and Liverpool pal Adam Lallana.
“It was difficult to watch the games at the World Cup. When you are desperate to be involved you feel the hurt. But at the same time you are an England fan,” Heaton explained.
“I also spent a bit of time with Adam Lallana in the summer. Our holidays overlapped and we watched a couple of the games together in Dubai. We both had similar feelings.
“Obviously it was brilliant for the boys reaching the semi-final, and we were right behind them, but there was still that little nagging feeling that you were desperate to be there.”
Replaced
Pre-season club training was all about convincing Clarets boss Sean Dyche that he should once again be the club’s No.1. Heaton recalled: “I felt fresh, I felt really ‘at it’. Back to 100 per cent, which was great. “Then I picked up a calf injury and missed the Europa League games against Aberdeen. “Popey came back and played in them and then he suffered the same injury as me, which he is still having rehab for. The manager decided that he would bring in Joe Hart, who was available from Manchester City.
“Joe played in the Europa League. The manager then kept him in for the first Premier League game.
“That was tough. To be perfectly honest, I was expecting to play.
“But Joe and I have had an excellent relationship for a long time.
“I had a very good phone call from him just before he signed, which shows the calibre of the man. I have no issues with Joe at all.”
Once Pope gains his fitness, Burnley will possess three England keepers.
Heaton said: “It doesn’t need a rocket scientist to see that it’s going to be difficult to fit us all in.
“I will always give everything for the shirt. but what the future holds? I’m not certain.
“Come the January window, I’ve got to keep my options open. I’ve not had any conversations with the club about that yet.
“The one thing I’ve been consistent about in my career is moving clubs in order to play games.
“I want to play week in, week out – and if I’m not doing that, then there is a question to be answered.”