NICK Pope has hailed club captain Tom Heaton after revealing the skipper has been a major influence on him since suffering the injury that has opened the door for Pope to thrive for the Clarets.

Heaton is currently absent after undergoing shoulder surgery following an injury he picked up in early September, but Pope has been the beneficiary of the skipper’s misfortune, stepping up to take his place between the posts and turning in a string of impressive displays.

Pope’s form for Burnley saw him nominated for the Premier League player of the month award for October and since replacing Heaton he has kept five clean sheets in eight league outings to help the Clarets to seventh place.

The 25-year-old has laid down a challenge to the convalescing Heaton, but he revealed that the two remained in daily contact and thanked the England man for his backing during the run in the team.

“I still speak to him daily. He’s a top guy, always wishing me the best of luck, we’re still talking to each other, how he’s getting on and he’s talking to me about the game,” Pope said of Heaton.

“He’s a top guy, I can’t speak highly enough of Heats. Ever since I’ve joined the club he’s been great with me.

“That’s the measure of the guy – he’s happy since I’ve come in the team instead of him, he’s delighted for me. I can’t speak highly enough of him.”

Pope, a summer 2016 addition from Charlton, had never played a minute of Premier League football until he replaced Heaton in the first half of the Turf Moor win over Crystal Palace.

But he’s looked unfazed since coming into the team and he leads the way in Europe’s top five leagues for the percentage of shots saved.

“When you come into the team you don’t know what the result is going to be and how it’s going to go,” Pope said.

“To start like this, just like the team have started, it’s a grounding, a bit of foundation for the season. I just want to keep building on my performances and look at it week by week. I don’t want to look too far ahead, same as the team.”

Pope has had to learn on the job since replacing Heaton, but he’s been thrown in at the deep end as well, with tough fixtures away at Liverpool, Everton, Manchester City and Southampton, and he’s relished his run in the team.

“It’s just nice. We’ve had some great results – away at Everton, Liverpool,” he said.

“It’s the deep end but to come through it like I have done, I’ve really enjoyed the last few weeks.”