AS a highly-rated youngster coming through Manchester United’s fabled youth system Tom Heaton won 19 caps for England from Under-16 to Under-21 level.

He was a Three Lions regular at age-group level but when he made a first senior United appearance as an 18-year-old in Stan Ternent’s testimonial at Turf Moor in 2004 he can’t have imagined that it was at Burnley he would truly make his name, and where his first senior England recognition would arrive.

After winning his first cap in Friday’s 2-1 win over Australia at the Stadium of Light Heaton spoke of the long journey he had taken to get here.

There were the six loan spells while he was at Old Trafford and then the permanent moves to Cardiff City and Bristol City without ever making it a home.

He’s definitely at home at Turf Moor though, and three seasons of fine performances, and 130 consecutive league starts, have finally brought reward at international level, and the honour of being the first Burnley player to represent the Three Lions since Martin Dobson in 1974.

“It's been quite a journey after leaving United a few years and playing every level of league football,” said the 30-year-old. “It’s great to get to this level and play so I’m over the moon.

“It’s incredible, and a very proud moment for me. It’s been quite a long journey so I’m delighted to get on the pitch and get that cap.

“It wasn’t definite but there was talk of it this week that I might get some time. I prepared the best I possibly could for when the time came and thankfully that was (on Friday).

“I’m proud of the achievement of being the first England player since 1974 to be capped at Burnley.”

Heaton had family and friends watching at the Stadium of Light, as well as Clarets teammate David Jones, and he is not settling for a solitary cap for his country.

“My dad, my wife, my father in law and David Jones were all here as well as a few other friends so it’s brilliant of them to make the effort,” said the Burnley captain.

“My son is in bed unfortunately but to have everyone here was fantastic for me as that’s been my network of support over the years which made the moment special.

“The next goal is to get on again. That’s certainly my ambition, it doesn’t stop here and while I’ll enjoy the moment you set out in football as a kid to play for England and now I want more of it.

“We’ve got a fantastic group here and there is a great atmosphere amongst us so I’m excited to be involved in it.

“Joe and Fraser are both top class goalkeepers in their own right and the goalkeeping coach Dave Watson has been brilliant with me.

“It’s a good working environment with a competitive edge that is positive in driving the team forward.”

Since his free transfer arrival at Turf Moor in the summer of 2013 Heaton has worked with Burnley goalkeeping coach Billy Mercer.

The former Rotherham and Chesterfield shot-stopper would have been at the Stadium of Light but for a family holiday, but he managed to watch the game and was delighted to see Heaton appear from the bench after 87 minutes.

“I would have been there but my wife decided to book a holiday at Disney with the kids and didn’t look at the fixtures, but she’s very understanding and me and my young lad went and watched it in a sports bar,” said Mercer.

“As the game went on and on I was thinking ‘come on, get him on now’.”

Nobody is better placed than Mercer to judge how Heaton has changed since arriving at Burnley from a relegated Bristol City side.

And the goalkeeping coach believes that season at Ashton Gate played a crucial role in his development.

“The best thing that happened to Tom was when he went to Bristol City, he was in a side that got relegated and he still got player of the year,” said Mercer.

“Then he came to a side, with all due respect to Bristol City, that are fitter, more organised and have more quality, and he’s fitted in straight as well.

“He’s made us better and he’s got better by the week. He buys into what the gaffer believes in.

“The goalkeeping side we ask him different things, we offer it to him and he buys into everything we put forward to him, he takes it all on.”

Heaton is already targeting additions to his first Three Lions cap, and that attitude is something Mercer has become used to at Turf Moor and Gawthorpe over the past three years.

“One thing with Tom is he never wants to stand still,” he said. “The gaffer talks about fine margins and Tom is a classic case of that, he’s always looking for those one per cents where he can improve on stuff.

“A big part of his game that’s improved this year has to be dealing with crosses. That was an area we identified last summer after the end of the season, we said we were really going to work on this and I think we’ve seen good results from that.”

He added: “He’s a pleasure to work with. I’m very fortunate, last year we had Matt Gilks and Paul Robinson as well and we had a very good mix.

“That doesn’t half make it easier. They’re really good lads, with good morals, but they’re very competitive with each other and that makes it work.”