TOM Heaton is expecting a difficult challenge for the Clarets in the Europa League next season - having spent time on England duty picking Jordan Pickford's brains on his experiences in the competition.

Burnley are back in Europe for the first time in over half-a-century after last season's seventh place finish and they get their European campaign underway at the second qualifying round stage, with the first leg taking place on July 26.

Sean Dyche's side will find out who they will face when the draw takes place in Nyon next Wednesday (June 20) and to reach the group stage they will need to win three qualifying round ties.

It's a new experience for most of Dyche's squad, including Heaton, who is likely to get his chance to impress in the early rounds, with goalkeeping rival Nick Pope set for a later return to pre-season as he heads to the World Cup with England.

While Heaton, who was on the standby list for the Three Lions and trained with the squad at St George's Park before they headed to Russia, has never featured in Europe before, he has been asking Pickford what to expect, with the Everton man playing in the competition for the Toffees in 2017/18.

"I was talking to Pickers about Everton in the Europa League last year," said Heaton. "He said it was tough, they found it tough. No matter who you get I don’t think it will be an easy ride.

"It will be another good challenge for us to meet head on."

Heaton described European qualification as another 'good marker' for the Clarets, who have gone from the strength to strength under Dyche.

Former Manchester United youngster Heaton has been a key part of that success, although the club captain lost his place to Pope when he suffered a shoulder injury last September that kept him sidelined for several months.

Now back to fitness he is determined to lay down a challenge in pre-season to reclaim his spot and having enjoyed so much success at Turf Moor he is keen to add a good European run to the CV.

"We’ll be looking to build again and keep taking things forward," the 32-year-old said. "It’s been a feature over the years, last season was a brilliant season and we’ll look to build in other ways, keep evolving and keep improving as a team.

"European football is a big marker so that will be the challenge.

"It will be very big if we can do well. It will be a tough challenge, Pickers said the challenge of it was difficult, they found it tough, even playing at home and playing away at teams you wouldn’t expect.

"To get in the Europa League they’re going to be decent sides. It’s a challenge we’re looking forward to embracing."