Heaton eager to captain Clarets back to top tier

Sean Dyche’s side are currently fifth in the Championship, five points adrift of Middlesbrough in the division’s automatic promotion spot and an identically tally clear of Cardiff City who occupy sixth place.

The goalkeeper, who has earned four successive call-ups to Roy Hodgson’s England side, was handed the captain’s armband in the summer following the acrimonious departure of defender Jason Shackell to Derby County.

“It’s been great, I’ve really enjoyed it,” said Heaton, who signed a new contract in pre-season to keep him at the club until 2018.

“The great thing is we’ve got a fantastic dressing room, there’s a great atmosphere and a great culture among the squad so there’s not an awful lot to do in that sense.

“I’m trying to just ease into it really, nothing’s really changed. Obviously the focus is still on performing from my point of view, making sure that’s right, and then just trying to add little things in and try to push the boundaries like that.

“It’s just a different way of thinking and looking at it from my point of view - additional things to look at, but I am enjoying it.”

Heaton added: “It would be incredible (to captain the club to promotion). That’s certainly the aim, and the ambition. I think we’ve got more than enough quality and more than enough about us to do that.

“We’re in a great situation at the minute and we still think there’s more to come which can only benefit us really.

“It would be a fantastic achievement, but I try not to think of it too much in terms of a personal note but it’s still the general aim.”

The Clarets had been looking to take their unbeaten run in to double figures ahead of the Lancashire derby with Preston North End at Turf Moor but goals from Will Keane and Daniel Johnson inflicted a third defeat of the campaign.

However, Heaton is still optimistic about the start that the Clarets have made this term.

“We’ve started the season very well,” he said. “We’ve been churning results out over the vast amount of games there are.

“I still think there’s more to come and I think that’s the great thing about this team at the minute.

“I still think there’s a lot more we can bring to the party and hopefully that will continue to bring us the right results.”

He added: “You’re not going to get it all your own way all the time, the important thing is over a period of time that you’re doing the right thing more often than not, and that brings the results you require.

“That’s the blueprint we’ve used since I’ve worked for the manager here and it’s stood us in really good stead.”