CLARETS captain Tom Heaton still has ambitions of making the England squad for this summer's World Cup.

The Burnley goalkeeper has been out of action since suffering a shoulder injury in September but is now closing in on a first-team return for the Clarets.

But the 31-year-old could find his path to a return for club and country blocked by the form of Nick Pope, whose performances for Burnley since Heaton's injury were rewarded with an England call-up last week for friendlies with Holland and Italy this month.

However, Heaton is refusing to give up on his dreams of making the Three Lions squad for Russia, despite seeing his teammate potentially leapfrog him in Gareth Southgate's thoughts, while Joe Hart, Jack Butland and Jordan Pickford are also competing for three goalkeeping spots.

Heaton has returned to full training now and could be fit for a return to action at West Brom on March 31.

Speaking at the launch of his new Precision Infinite Heat glove range, he said: "I am back into full training on the grass as of last week and I have played a couple of reserve team games.

"In the next week or so I am expecting to be back to 100 per cent and hopefully get back in the team."

Pope has shone for the Clarets in Heaton's absence and a remarkable six months were capped with an England call-up last Thursday.

But Heaton, who has won three England caps, still has international ambitions out of his own and believes there is still time to force his way back into Southgate's plans.

"Being back fit is the first marker and then trying to get back into the team is the next step," he said.

"Beyond that I still have ambitions of making the plane for the World Cup and there is a fair bit of water to go under the bridge yet.

"I am working every day with that ambition in mind."

Tom Heaton wears Precision Infinite Heat – for more information and to win a signed pair of gloves follow @PrecisionGK on twitter.