TOM Heaton has hailed the togetherness in the England squad ahead of the start of Gareth Southgate’s permanent reign as Three Lions boss in Germany tonight.

Heaton and his Burnley teammate Michael Keane met up with the rest of Southgate’s squad on Sunday night ahead of tonight’s friendly in Dortmund and Sunday’s World Cup qualifier with Lithuania at Wembley.

It was the first time the players have been together since Southgate was given the job permanently with the former Middlesbrough boss having been in temporary charge for unbeaten four matches in October and November.

And the week began with a talk from Southgate as he outlined his vision for the squad going forward.

“It was really good. It’s the first time we’ve all got together since he was given the job on a permanent basis,” Burnley captain Heaton told the club’s Clarets Player channel in an interview at St George’s Park.

“It was a really good starting point. He set out his ideas, what he wants to do and what he wants to achieve.

“All in all it was a fantastic meeting and a great start to what will hopefully be a very good week.

“We haven’t got together for four months or so, but there’s a very good atmosphere here, a good togetherness between the lads. That was evident from my first trip and I’ve been lucky enough to be involved for a couple of years.

“That’s been a theme throughout. It’s a good basis to work from, it’s a good atmosphere around the place.”

While Keane is bidding for an England debut in Dortmund, Heaton is aiming to add to his three caps as he competes with Torino’s Joe Hart and Southampton’s Fraser Forster for the goalkeeping berth.

“Having had a taste of it, it’s fantastic to get on the pitch for England,” the 30-year-old.

It’s an incredible feeling and it makes you want more of it.

“You can only control what you do. I try and look at it from an individual point of view.

“The manager makes his decision and picks his team and you have to be respectful of that.

“A big thing at Burnley and here is the lads that aren’t in the starting XI have a massive influence on what’s going on.

“It’s important you get that right if you’re not in the starting XI, you give everything you can in terms of supporting and being ready if the opportunity arises.

“It goes without saying every player here is desperate to play, but the attitude and being professional is very important.”

Heaton was in the squad when England won 3-2 in Berlin under Roy Hodgson a year ago, when they came from two goals down to claim a famous win, and he is hoping for a repeat of that tonight.

“It’s a brilliant friendly game, if you can call it that. I was fortunate enough to be involved in the game in Berlin not so long ago,” he said.

“I was watching from the bench but it was a brilliant night and a fantastic feeling and one we’re looking to emulate again on Wednesday night.”