Tom Heaton eyeing a place in the Premier League

BACK HOME: Tom Heaton shelters from the rain after agreeing terms with Burnley on a two-year deal with a one-year option

The 27-year-old agreed a two-year contract, with a one-year option, after a season with Bristol City.

And the former Manchester United and England Under 21 keeper is raring to go at a club where his family are lifelong supporters and season ticket holders.

Heaton said: “This is a fantastic football club with huge potential.

“I spoke to the manager and staff, who I met before when he was at Watford, and I also know the goalkeeping coach, Billy Mercer, so everything fits.

“The history of the club and the family brings the nostalgia back, so I think it’s a great time for me to come and sign here.

“Hopefully the club is moving in the right direction and we can do something special.”

Heaton began his career at Old Trafford, and enjoyed loan spells at Swindon Town, Royal Antwerp, Cardiff City, QPR, Rochdale and Wycombe Wanderers before joining Cardiff City in 2010.

In two seasons in South Wales, he made 40 appearances and impressed in the Bluebirds’ run to the Carling Cup Final in 2012, saving two penalties against Crystal Palace in the semi-final shootout, and another from Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard in the final shoot-out final defeat at Wembley.

He spent last season at Ashton Gate, though Bristol City were relegated from the Championship, and Clarets boss Sean Dyche admits he has been a fan of the Chester-born keeper for some time: “Tom is someone we knew all about at Watford and we have monitored his progress since then.

“We have had him watched several times in the past year, he’s just had a really good season in very tough circumstances at Bristol and he recently played very well here at Turf Moor, as every Burnley fan will know.

“He is a good technician, he has great pedigree, having coming out of Manchester United and is a good age and willing to learn.”

Dyche, who has reacted swiftly to losing his two first-team goalkeepers this summer, added: “We felt it was appropriate to act quickly following the release of Brian (Jensen) and the departure of Lee (Grant). We have been aligning things for the ‘what-ifs’, as we are in all cases, and Tom is a great signing.”

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