Tuesday 8 August 2017 00:09, UK
Burnley's Tom Heaton is ready to fight for his World Cup dream as competition among England's five top goalkeepers hots up.
Joe Hart has been England's number one for the past five years but is facing challengers on several fronts as he looks to rebuild his Premier League career on loan at West Ham.
Stoke's Jack Butland, Southampton's Fraser Forster and Everton new-boy Jordan Pickford will all be hoping for a call should England qualify for Russia 2018, where only three goalkeepers will be required.
But last time the Three Lions took to the pitch, a 3-2 friendly defeat in France, it was Heaton who started the match and it is a position he will not relinquish easily.
"The World Cup at the end of the season is always there, it doesn't go away, but to have a chance of being involved in that you need performances week-in, week-out," said the Burnley skipper.
"I don't think there's any given right to pull on that England shirt or be in the squad. I don't think any player should ever feel comfortable. At that level it's about being the best in the country at that moment in time.
"Having been involved for two years it's been fantastic, getting my first cap, playing 45 minutes at Wembley, getting that first start this summer. The one thing it does do is give you hunger for more and I've certainly got that ambition.
"I think the competition is really strong, they're all fantastic goalkeepers, and that will only breed more success and get more out of people. I, for one, am looking forward to the challenge.
"Hopefully the goalkeeping department will go from strength-to-strength and I'm embracing the challenge of being part of it."
