TOM Heaton admits missing out on Burnley's run to the Europa League last season has made him more determined to play a part in their survival fight this time around. The Clarets captain was back in the starting XI for the weekend win over West Ham, making his first Premier League appearance since September 2017.

He collected a clean sheet in a composed display which helped Sean Dyche's side to a vital three points as they seek to clamber out of the bottom three.

And Heaton, who has been on the bench for most of this season with summer signing Joe Hart preferred in goal, wants to help the Clarets to safety.

"We want to be staying in the Premier League," he said. "The situation we’re in at the minute is far from ideal, the results haven’t been great, we’ve conceded a lot of chances and a lot of goals. It’s been difficult.

“If I can be part of steering us away from that so be it."

He added: "I got an incredible amount of enjoyment out of the game. It was brilliant to be back out there, to put the shirt on again.

"There are never any guarantees in football or in life but today I was going to do two things - they were enjoy it and give it everything that I've got. I'm delighted to come away with three points.

Asked if the weekend win could make a big difference to Burnley's season ahead of a vital trip to bottom of the table Huddersfield on Wednesday night, Heaton added: “I do, I feel like that’s probably a step up from where we’ve been, but it’s going to take more again.

“It’s going to be a bumpy road. I don’t think it’s going to be straightforward and everything’s going to be cupcakes and rainbows.

"But I think we’re going to need that heart, that desire, and maximum capacity from every single player during that 90 minutes and see where it takes us."

Heaton admitted to feeling a touch emotional as he led the side out against the Hammers and was delighted to give the Turf fans something to cheer as Burnley secured just a second Premier League win in 12 games.

"I got goosebumps walking out, it was an incredible feeling and that spurs you on," Heaton added.

"As players, playing for this football club, from here on in it's not going to be straight forward with the situation that we're in but if you can give everything you've got in every game we play in then win, lose or draw these fans will get behind us.

"If we give everything then the fans will support that. They've shown that over the years and that's a great starting point for us.

"There are a lot of big games coming up and we start with Huddersfield which is followed by Fulham.

"In the situation that we're in it does make them big games.

"We'll take it one game at a time, as we've done, and every time we go out there we need to make sure that everyone is giving their maximum capacity."