Heaton’s joy at latest call up for England

Burnley's Thomas Heaton during the pre-match warm-up

Photographer Kevin Barnes/CameraSport

Football - The Football League Sky Bet Championship - Bristol City v Burnley - Saturday 29th August 2015 - Ashton Gate - Bristol

© CameraSport - 43 Linden Ave. Countesthorpe. Leicester. England. LE8 5PG - Tel: +44 (0) 116 277 4147 - admin@camerasport.com - www.camerasport.com — Burnley's Thomas Heaton during the pre-match warm-up Photographer Kevin Barnes/CameraSport Football - The Football League Sky Bet Championship - Bristol City v Burnley - Saturday 29th August 2015 - Ashton Gate - Bristol © CameraSport - 43 Linden Ave. Countesthorpe. Leicester. England. LE8 5PG - Tel: +44 (0) 116 277 4147 - [email protected] - www.camerasport.com

The Burnley keeper is the only Championship player named in the 22-man panel for the Euro 2016 qualifiers against San Marino and Switzerland.

Heaton is the only uncapped member of the group, although he was part of the squad for the June fixtures against Republic of Ireland and Slovenia.

He hailed Clarets goalkeeping coach for his help: “Billy has been absolutely outstanding from day one and I can’t thank him enough really.

“I think my game has improved a lot since I’ve been at the club. That’s all aspects of it, technically, game understanding, and the full lot.

“Obviously the manager, and all the staff really, have been fantastic and I really feel like they’ve helped me turn the corner in becoming a more senior player.

“I feel I’ve matured in the two and a bit years I’ve been here and hopefully I can continue that under their tenure and get better.”

“I’m very pleased. Dropping down to the Championship sometimes makes it difficult but I’ve said all along that all I can focus on is performing. I’ll continue to try and do so and it’s nice to have that rewarded.

“One of the aims when I got the first call-up was to try and stay in the squad – thankfully that’s happened.

“That will certainly be my aim again to make sure I do enough and make enough impact so they want me back again.

“It’ll be about learning, developing and competing. I’m really excited to join up with the group again and do that.”

Martin Dobson was the last Burnley player, in 1974, to win a full England cap.

The squad is: Hart (Manchester City), Butland (Stoke City), Heaton (Burnley); Clyne (Liverpool), Shaw (Manchester United), Gibbs (Arsenal), Cahill (Chelsea), Smalling (Manchester United), Stones (Everton), Jagielka (Everton); Carrick (Manchester United), Milner (Liverpool), Barkley (Everton), Shelvey (Swansea City), Mason (Tottenham Hotspur), Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Delph (Manchester City); Sterling (Manchester City), Rooney (Manchester United), Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Vardy (Leicester City), Walcott (Arsenal).