Burnley boss Sean Dyche: 'Tom Heaton close to full fitness'

By Darren Plant, Senior Reporter | 01 March 2018

Burnley boss Sean Dyche says that goalkeeper Tom Heaton is closing in on a return to the first-team squad after nearly six months out with a shoulder injury.

Burnley boss Sean Dyche has revealed that he has been impressed with goalkeeper Tom Heaton since his return to training in recent weeks.

Heaton has missed almost six months of action after sustaining a shoulder injury in September, and the England international has been forced to watch on as deputy Nick Pope has starred during the club's rise up the Premier League table.

Dyche has admitted that he was pleased with Heaton's performance in a friendly last month, but suggests that his previous number one should not expect an instant return to the starting lineup.

At a press conference, the 46-year-old told reporters: "He will certainly let us know when he is ready. He is certainly training very well, he played very well the other day, and took care of the simple stuff – 'keepers who do that are usually good keepers and he does that very well.

"He has trained well over the last period and is certainly coming back towards the thinking but I still think he will let us know when he is fully ready and he knows the form of Popey as well.

"He knows he has got to deal with that as well – but first things first, he has to make sure he is absolutely 100% fit and he is very, very close."

Heaton has made 178 appearances for Burnley since moving to Turf Moor in 2013.