Burnley goalkeeper Tom Heaton has been recovering from an injury and his presence around the youth team has rubbed off on some of the youngsters.
England and Burnley shot-stopper Tom Heaton has stepped up the final stages of his rehabilitation by making a return to competitive football with the club’s under-23s against QPR on Monday.
The 31-year-old has been out for some time, following surgery to his shoulder after he dislocated it during a game against Crystal Palace in the opening stages of the season.
Having spent a lot of time with the Burnley youngsters during the latter stages of his recovery, Heaton’s presence around the training ground has definitely rubbed off on the club’s young stars, who have been soaking up as much as possible from training alongside the club captain.
Burnley under-23 coach Michael Duff has spoken of Heaton’s influence on the development team, praising the England goalkeeper for the example he continues to set for them as a role model.
Speaking to the Burnley website, Duff said: “The last week tells you a lot about Tom. He’s a constant professional in everything he does.
“Being the club captain as well, he sets the example for everyone else, whether it’s with the U23s, the first team, or England. He’s the same all the time and has been great for the group in these last two games.”
Having been missing for essentially the entire season, Heaton has lost both his club and international place to Nick Pope, who has been excellent between the sticks for the Clarets, with many calling for him to start for the Three Lions in Russia this summer.
Earlier this month, the Daily Mail reported that Heaton still has his heart set on a spot in the England squad for this summer’s World Cup, but time is running out for the veteran to prove his fitness and form with the end of the season approaching rapidly.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
