Skipper Heaton describes Clarets as a culture club

England goalkeepers Tom Heaton (left) and Joe Hart before the international friendly match at Wembley Stadium, London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday November 17, 2015. See PA story SOCCER England. Photo credit should read: Nick Potts/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Use subject to FA restrictions. Editorial use only. Commercial use only with prior written consent of the FA. No editing except cropping. Call +44 (0)1158 447447 or see paphotos.com/info for full restrictions and further information.

The Clarets skipper admits that the squad have had to draw on that unity to help pull them out of the mire on certain occasions this term.

Dyche’s men have been made to dig deep to claim a point with late goals against Leeds United, Birmingham City and Nottingham Forest while Sam Vokes’s late strike earned victory over Rotherham United at the New York Stadium in October.

In fact the Clarets, who have kept five clean sheets this term, have netted seven times in the final quarter-of-an-hour of games. “It’s a good mix and you need that,” said Heaton. “It’s been massive since I’ve been at the club.

“Stepping on to the next level you need the characters and that camaraderie and togetherness. That can bring you through.

“Duffo says they had that in abundance under Owen Coyle when they went up.

“It can certainly carry you through tough situations and tough times and tough weeks if you’ve not had a good week.

“It’s something we’ve definitely used and we may need to use again in the future.”

Heaton added: “He (Dyche) makes no secret of the fact that he does his due diligence not just in terms of the playing ability but what they’re like off the pitch, what they’re bringing to the culture, and that’s massive.

“It’s no surprise we’ve got a great culture here.”

On his England involvement in games against Spain and France, the 29-year-old added: “It’s brilliant; there are so many positives I can’t complain at all.

“Yes I want to play and I’ll keep working towards that but it’s brilliant to be a part of it all. It’s very good, a great set up and top standard as you’d expect. It’s an amazing experience.”