Tom Heaton’s 2019/20 season was ended prematurely by an ACL injury, but the Birmingham Mail report the experienced stopper returned to training earlier this week.
They claim Heaton’s return to first team action may not come in the first weekend of the Premier League season, but quote the goalkeeper saying he feels ‘really, really good’ as his recovery steps up.
We’ve picked out what he’ll bring to Villa between the sticks next term…
Top flight experience
Back in August 2019, Dean Smith hailed the top flight experience Heaton would bring to the club, as per Express and Star.
While his Villa squad now has a year of Premier League football behind them, Heaton is a seasoned pro at this level.
He has been at Burnley and seen what it takes for a club to stabilise in the big time, which is exactly what Villa will be trying to do after a close shave with relegation last time around.
Leadership
There were times last season when Villa’s backline was all at sea.
Tyrone Mings is meant to be the organiser back there but he lost his way not long after his England call-up.
Heaton’s presence should lead to more stability and assuredness at the back in 2020/21.
He’s an England international and that’s likely to bring him a lot of respect in the dressing room.
Safe hands
Could you imagine Heaton carrying the ball behind the line like Orjan Nyland did against Sheffield United?
Every goalkeeper makes mistakes at times but Heaton doesn’t make many and offers a clear upgrade on any of the other stoppers on the books at Villa.
He is also capable of heroic performances to keep teams out single-handedly, which Villa may still need at times next term.
A settled, assured first-choice goalkeeper makes a massive difference to a side, and Heaton should have a big impact whenever he returns.
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