I MUST admit Tom Heaton’s call-up to the England squad came as a surprise yesterday, although a pleasant one.

I thought he might have been in with a shout earlier in the season, but I guess you don’t expect international recognition when a team has just been relegated.

MORE TOP STORIES:

It just goes to show though how well he has performed in his debut Premier League campaign. Nine league clean sheets is no mean feat and I’m really pleased he has got the recognition he deserves.

Tom will be gutted about relegation, but on such a high about getting a call-up for his country.

There are mixed emotions, but it is a massive boost for him and for Burnley Football Club.

The trouble for the Clarets now is that he becomes one more that they might worry about losing as, having proved himself at the top level, he comes under the radar of top flight clubs.

When a player does well, like he has, the vultures come out.

The good news is, Tom is under contract, so hopefully that gives the club a bit of security.

The same goes for a player like Kieran Trippier. The right back has been, for me, Burnley’s most consistent player in the Premier League and has enhanced his reputation.

He hasn’t looked out of place at the highest level and he has proved to himself and others that he is capable of playing there on a regular basis.

But I hope he stays with Burnley because we want to keep our best players, so hopefully David Baldwin - Lee Hoos’ successor as chief executive - has more incomings to deal with than outgoings.

We sign off at Aston Villa on Sunday.

They are obviously safe now and in the FA Cup final the week after, so I don’t think anyone would point the finger if they played a weakened side.

But, it’s down to us and it would be nice if we could go out with a win.