CLARETS captain Tom Heaton will feature for the Under-23s as part of his comeback from shoulder surgery.

No timeframe has been placed on Heaton's return to action with Michael Duff's side and the 31-year-old has only recently returned to training with the rest of the goalkeeping group.

Heaton has been out of action since dislocating his shoulder in the win over Crystal Palace on September 10.

He underwent surgery shortly after but returned to training with goalkeeping coach Billy Mercer and the rest of the senior stoppers in Nick Pope, Anders Lindegaard and Adam Legzdins a couple of weeks ago.

While Heaton is active in testing his shoulder with that group he is yet to train with the rest of the first-team and feature in training games, but Sean Dyche is pleased with his progress.

"He’s not with the group yet. He’s with the goalie group," the Clarets chief said of Heaton's return.

"They train separately and then they join the group if it’s finishing or game scenarios. He’s not actually active with our group yet.

"But he’s going really well. So we’ll timeline him back into the actual group when we see fit, but with Bill [Mercer] doing everything.

"They work hard the goalkeeper boys, so he's doing landing, stretching, the whole lot. He’ll come back in when he’s ready, the physios think he’s ready, and of course Bill does. That’s why he there, he’s the specialist goalkeeping coach for a reason."

Heaton will have a fight on his hands to regain his place from Pope, with the former Charlton goalkeeper impressing in his absence.

But Heaton will get the chance to impress for the Under-23s at some point, with Dyche revealing he will be pencilled in to feature before making a first-team return.

Although the need to return to match fitness isn't as pressing with a goalkeeper Dyche believes it is essential Heaton gets the chance to 'get his eye in'.

Asked if his skipper will feature for Duff's side, Dyche said: "Definitely. I think it’s different the other way for a goalkeeper. I think they need games.

"Outfield players, particularly strikers, you want them almost off the cuff a little bit.

"Defenders like to get their eye in, goalkeepers like to get their eye in, that game-ready feel. I think that’s important. So he’ll definitely play games, when he’s ready, of course. And he’ll want to. I know Tom. I know what he’s like. He will definitely want to play games."