FORMER Burnley favourite Tom Heaton has returned to Manchester United.

The 35-year-old came through the ranks at Old Trafford before leaving for a successful career with the likes of Cardiff, Bristol City, the Clarets and most recently Aston Villa, winning three England caps along the way.

He has agreed a deal until June 2023, with the option for a further year.

“For me to have the opportunity to come back after spending 13 great years here as a kid, it’s an incredible feeling and I’m really, really excited to get started,” Heaton said.

Heaton hasn’t played any competitive football since being taken off on a stretcher when playing for Aston Villa at Turf Moor on New Year’s Day 2020.

He tore his anterior cruciate ligament in what was his 20th appearance for Villa following an £8 move from Burnley in the summer of 2019.

That brought the curtain down on a tremendous six-year service in Clarets colours for Heaton who played 200 games after arriving on a free transfer in 2013, twice helping the club to promotion from the Championship and subsequently establishing themselves in the Premier League.

The form of Nick Pope, and a battle for an England spot as well as one at Turf Moor, saw Heaton move to the Midlands, but following his injury and the signing of Emi Martinez from Arsenal, he fell down the pecking order at Villa Park and was a free agent.

He will be one of the back-up keepers at United, taking the spot vacated by Sergio Romero with David De Gea and Dean Henderson likely to battle for the number one position.