GOALKEEPER Tom Heaton has praised a team effort for setting him up for personal best clean sheet tally.

The Clarets have recorded 11 shut-outs in league and cup this season, 10 of them with Heaton in goal.

That return has already equalled a season-best for the former Manchester United stopper, for Rochdale and Wycombe combined in 2009/10 when he was sent on loan from Old Trafford in the 2009/10 season.

And he would love the chance to surpass that total in Burnley’s top of the table clash at Leicester City on Saturday.

“There’s a massive amount of excitement already building up for that.

“Top of the table clashes are the ones you want to play in as players and we go into it full of confidence, happy with how we’re playing.

“We’ve got some great performances behind us, a great win on Saturday, so we’ll have no fear.

“If we stick to the things we’ve done well then we’re going to give ourselves a fantastic chance of winning the game.”

Leaders Burnley boast the second meanest defence in the Championship, supplemented by being joint third in the leading goalscoring charts.

After reaching double figures for clean sheets with the 1-0 win over Barnsley at the weekend, Heaton said.

“Ten’s my best for a full season, and we’re only halfway there.

“I’m a small factor in that.

“As a team we have that framework and solidity that makes it hard to play against.

“On Saturday in the first half they (Barnsley) had the better of the game but they had one chance.

“If you’re keeping teams down to one or two chances a game you’re going to give yourself a chance of keeping clean sheets and not conceding many goals.”

He added: “We’ve got eight clean sheets in the league, (11) in total.

“It’s a fantastic return and there’s a bit of pride there for me, as with the rest of the team because everyone’s involved in it.

“I’m enjoying it at the minute.

“Hopefully it can continue.”