‘I want to kick on’ – Tom Heaton determined not become Man Utd one-hit wonder after shock Young Boys appearance
TOM HEATON does not want to be remembered as a one-hit wonder for Manchester United.
The Red Devils keeper, 35, was handed his long-awaited first-team debut by Ralf Rangnick in the Champions League 1-1 draw with Young Boys – almost 19 years after he first joined the club as a trainee.
Three-time England cap Heaton, who left United for Cardiff in 2010 before spells at Bristol City, Burnley and Aston Villa, says his second half substitute cameo has only whetted the appetite for more.
Heaton said: “Playing at Old Trafford in front of a capacity crowd is always a great feeling. As a visitor I’ve enjoyed it but to wear the home shirt in my competitive debut is a brilliant moment.
“The idea of me coming back here was to strive and get into the team and this was the first opportunity of that.
“I was hoping it was going to come earlier but I’ve been working every day for this moment and it was great to be out there. I loved every minute of it.
“Signing as an 11-year-old, coming through the academy, I’ve been on the bench a few times, played a few friendlies, a lot of loan spells and then made the right decision to leave and go away and play.
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“But that playing feeling has never left me and every move I’ve made since then has been to play.
“Coming back here hasn’t changed that. I knew I was going to have to be patient. It’s a fantastic goalkeeping department. David (de Gea) has been brilliant this year, Dean (Henderson) is a fantastic keeper.
The driver is playing. It’s the first marker for me and walking off I now have the appetite for more. I feel good and I want to kick on from here.”
While Heaton’s debut was a long time coming, the 22-minute outing, when he replaced Henderson, was his first competitive appearance in almost TWO years.
The veteran stopper suffered a serious knee injury at Villa against another of his old clubs Burnley on New Year’s Day in 2020.
Heaton added: “The first half of that season at Villa was fantastic but then I got a difficult knee injury and I was out for quite a long time. But you work on those dark days for moments like this.
“It’s been a while since I’ve played competitively. I’ve played pre-season games this year and felt good. It was nice to come to this moment.
“My eldest boy was here with my wife, mum, dad, in-laws and a few friends but my youngest boy was asleep in bed because it was too late. But it was a good occasion.
“A new manager comes in the building and you want to impress. He has given me the opportunity and now I’ll keep working for more.”
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