Keeping the faith pays off for Heaton
THE ambition to play for England never left Tom Heaton, even after failing to make the breakthrough at Manchester United saw him drop down the leagues.
Now 31, Heaton will make his first Three Lions start against France in Paris tonight, crowning a career which has taken in not just Old Trafford but Swindon, Antwerp, Cardiff, QPR, Rochdale, Wycombe and Bristol City.
Now at Burnley - where he has been since 2013 - Heaton has excelled and shown just why he was so highly rated by United in his early days.
He said: “I have played across all four divisions, the ambition never left me.
“That hunger to play for England.
“It might have felt, for other people, a long way off at certain times, playing down in League Two, but I never lost that belief.
“It is a different sort of journey to a lot of lads but I am proud of that journey.
“Started at United, left, went away, sort of worked back up to the Premier League. I would not change it.
“It is what it is. I like to think it stands me in good stead in terms of the experiences and perhaps the mental side of it.”
Almost every player will list playing for their country as a childhood ambition and for Heaton the story is no different.
Now, after doing so twice as a substitute, he will have the chance to experience being a starter.
Heaton added: “I think when you set out in a career in football, playing for England encapsulates what you sort of visualise.
“I am no different to that. Belting out the national anthem with the shirt on will be a fantastic moment.”
Heaton comes in to replace Joe Hart, whose omission was planned but comes at a time when the Manchester City outcast finds himself at a career crossroads.