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Burnley goalkeeper Tom Heaton eyes important run in
Burnley goalkeeper Tom Heaton has been recalled to the England national football squad for Euro 2020 matches against the Czech Republic and Montenegro, 21 months since his last cap in a friendly against France in June 2017.
The 32-year-old has endured a frustrating time since picking up a shoulder injury at the start of last season and has had to wait patiently to regain his starting place at Premier League strugglers Burnley, with fellow Clarets’ and England shot stoppers Nick Pope and Joe Hart standing in Heaton’s way.
Speaking to Yahoo Sport UK at Precision’s Goalkeeping event for his bespoke glove range, Heaton explained that time out injured helped the ‘fire to burn strong’ in his attempt to regain fitness, his first-team spot and a place in Gareth Southgate’s England squad.
“You sort of realise when it’s taken away from you and you can’t play, I think you sort of realise deep down just how much you want it,” he said.
“You put the work in on the tough days and the fire is burning strong. I think it was important for me to get back fit, and then when I was back fit playing, then you look at trying to better yourself. I certainly did that, hopefully ready for the opportunity when it came, and thankfully it came halfway through this season.”
Heaton has played the last 11 league games for Burnley at the expense of Pope and Hart, putting in a string of impressive performances along the way. But the former Manchester United goalkeeper is taking nothing for granted.
“We’ve got a big goalkeeping department here. We’ve got a strong goalkeeping department. We compete with each other every day. We all have a great relationship.
“Of course we all want to play, there’s a competitive edge to it, but I think we all understand the nature of the game and it’s the manager’s decision who plays. Thankfully I’ve got the shirt at the moment, so hopefully that continues.”
Burnley currently sit 17th in the Premier League table, just one place above the relegation zone after three consecutive defeats. Cardiff City are just two points behind in the final relegation spot, with the two sides set to meet at Turf Moor in a month’s time. The Burnley skipper is well aware just how crucial the next few games could be in Burnley’s fight to avoid the drop.
He explained: “We have an important run in. We are looking at eight games left- three of the next four are at home, so it’s obviously going to be an important stretch of games, so we’ll be looking to take that challenge on.
“I think the last couple of results haven’t been ideal but I think there’s a lot to take performance wise, so if we can go and put the performances in I think we can go and put performances in, we can get a chance of getting some results and putting some points on the board.”
Away from club football Heaton will no doubt be delighted to be involved with the national team once again after almost two years out. England have to negotiate a couple of Euro 2020 qualifiers before their focus turns to the UEFA Nations League.
Reaching the semi-finals of the inaugural edition of the competition means England will travel to Portugal in June to take on the Netherlands, and it’s a tournament that Heaton feels that England will take seriously.
“I think you can look at certainly how England have applied themselves so far in that competition, to get to the semi-finals is a big achievement,” he insisted.
“Once you’re there you want to go on and look to win it. it’s a new competition and it’s in its infancy so I think it will be an interesting summer with that.”
European champions Portugal and Switzerland will contest the other semi-final and, when asked if England could actually win the trophy, Heaton replied: “I don’t see why not. You look on the back of the World Cup. The feel and momentum they’ve got, hopefully they can take that into it and you never know.”
England manager Southgate has a breadth of young talent in his most recent England squad with Declan Rice receiving his first call up for the national side after choosing to represent the Three Lions over the Republic of Ireland.
He joins the likes of Jadon Sancho, Dele Alli, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Marcus Rashford, giving the group a distinctly youthful feel.
“You look at the success of the England youth sides,” added Heaton. “That has been a feature of the last few years and I think those players are starting to show that potential and come to fruition.
“I think the England senior team is only going to benefit from that. It looks like there is going to be a healthy competition for places and it can only benefit the side in general and help us during the big tournaments.”
After displacing Hart and Pope in the Burnley squad for now, Heaton will be hoping he can claim a starting place for his country as well, starting against the Czech Republic on March 22nd.
Precision’s Infinite Heat Gloves, designed specifically by Tom are available now at http://www.precisiontraining.uk.com/goalkeeping.
Full England squad
Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Ross Barkley (Chelsea), Jack Butland (Stoke City), Ben Chilwell(Leicester City), Dele (Tottenham Hotspur), Fabian Delph (Manchester City), Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Tom Heaton (Burnley), Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Michael Keane (Everton), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Chelsea), Harry Maguire (Leicester City), Jordan Pickford(Everton), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Declan Rice (West Ham United), Danny Rose(Tottenham Hotspur), Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), John Stones (Manchester City), James Tarkowski (Burnley), Kieran Trippier(Tottenham Hotspur), Kyle Walker (Manchester City), Callum Wilson (AFC Bournemouth)
