Burnley boss Sean Dyche says he’s pleased to see Tom Heaton and James Tarkowski handed recalls to the England squad. Heaton has been called up for the first time since the summer of 2017 after he sustained a serious shoulder injury that ruled him out for most of last season, while Tarkowski has twice undergone hernia surgery.
Both men have stood out in Burnley’s good start to 2019 and were named in Gareth Southgate’s squad for the upcoming Euro 2020 qualifiers against the Czech Republic and Montenegro. Dyche said: “I think it’s another marker.
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Two very, very professional people doing well, particularly since Christmas with Tarky, I think his form’s been very good, and Heats coming back into the side. “I think it’s good that Gareth (Southgate) has recognised him before and the top quality professional that he is.
And also with Dwight McNeil getting a call-up to the Under-20s. It’s great for Dwight and he continues to earn the right for those things to happen to him. “It’s good for them and good for the club to continue to be recognised at international level, not just for England.
That’s a big shift from when I first arrived here, that’s for sure.” Heaton had to play second fiddle behind Nick Pope at the end of last season, watching his team-mate head to the World Cup instead of him, and was then usurped by Joe Hart over the first part of this campaign. But Heaton was recalled following a 5-1 loss to Everton on Boxing Day and his return coincided with an eight-game unbeaten run.
