SEAN Dyche said it was an easy decision to hand Tom Heaton the captaincy.

But the Burnley boss said it was important to have leaders all over the pitch.

Goalkeeper Heaton was asked to skipper the side on the eve of the game, after Jason Shackell’s returned to Derby County creating the vacancy.

It adds to a memorable few months for Heaton, who received his first England call-up after keeping 10 Premier League clean sheets last season.

Dyche explained it was not a complicated progress, saying: "I said, 'do you want to be captain?' and he said 'yeah’.

"Deadly serious. I don't overthink it. I want everyone to play like a captain, it's only an armband.

"He conducts himself professionally, he's very well thought of at the club, he's a bit of a go-to man, very sensible and articulate.”

Of other candidates, he added: "You've got Duffo (Michael Duff), Keano (Michael Keane) growing into his role, Jonah (David Jones) who's been around."