THE men tasked with protecting Tom Heaton’s goal when the Clarets captain is in Burnley colours have backed him to be a part of Roy Hodgson’s 23-man England squad for the European Championships.

Hodgson will name his Three Lions squad for Euro 2016 next week and Heaton is vying with West Brom’s Ben Foster for the third goalkeeping spot behind Joe Hart and Fraser Forster.

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Heaton was named in four successive England squads from June last year, and although he missed out for the most recent squad in March, the injury picked up by Jack Butland in the win in Germany saw him drafted in as emergency cover.

And Butland’s fractured ankle has opened the door for the 30-year-old Burnley stopper to force his way on to the plane to France, something he has been backed to do by Michael Keane and Ben Mee.

Saturday’s shutout at Charlton was Heaton’s 20th clean sheet of the campaign, one better than the mark he set in the promotion campaign of two years ago.

“Tom has had a brilliant season, he’s made some key saves for us,” said Keane, who won 16 caps at Under-21 level for England.

“I think it is something he deserves, it is a bit unfortunate that he’s not had his first cap. He’s probably been away four or five times now without getting a game.

“It would have been nice if he could have got on for 10 minutes but it wasn’t to be. Maybe the way the games were with the scores at the time it wasn’t to be.”

If Heaton does make the squad he could be set for a first cap in one of the three warm-up friendlies against Turkey at the Etihad (May 22), Australia at the Stadium of Light (May 27) and Portugal at Wembley (June 2).

Keane believes the recognition is fully deserved for a man who has started 130 successive league games for the Clarets.

“I am happy for him because he deserves it,” said the 23-year-old. “It looks like he might get into the squad now and it will be a great experience for him.

“We know it is very difficult to get into the England squad (in the Championship) and he has managed to do that as a goalkeeper, it is very rare that you see an outfield player getting called up.”

Thirteen of the 20 clean sheets came in the second half of the season after Mee moved in from left-back to partner Keane in the heart of defence.

Mee’s performances this season were recognised with six separate player of the year awards from supporters groups and the players’ player of the year award on Sunday night.

Now the former Manchester City trainee is hoping to see his goalkeeper get the call he deserves tomorrow.

“We’re all hoping Tom will be involved, it will be great for him,” said Mee. “I hope he gets his chance to show we he can do, he’s been magnificent.”