FORMER Burnley goalkeeper Marlon Beresford has backed the latest incumbent of the No 1 shirt at Turf Moor to get a ‘deserved’ call-up for England’s Euro 2016 squad today.

Roy Hodgson will name his 23-man squad for the tournament in France today and Tom Heaton is thought to be battling Ben Foster for the third goalkeeping spot behind Joe Hart and Fraser Forster.

MORE TOP STORIES:

The broken ankle that has ruled Jack Butland out for the summer has seen Clarets captain Heaton come back into the thinking, having made four successive squads while Forster recovered from his own serious injury.

Selection would cap a remarkable season for the 30-year-old, who lifted the Championship trophy for Burnley and kept 20 clean sheets, the last coming on the final day in the title-clinching win at Charlton.

Beresford was at The Valley to see another superb display from Heaton, and he said: “He was outstanding. It was three fantastic saves to keep them in the game and he is Mr Reliable again, which is just indicative of his whole season and the way his career is going.

“Week in and week out he is performing to a very high standard which will hopefully result in his inclusion to the England squad for the tournament.”

Heaton has been ahead of West Brom’s Foster in recent squads, but while the Burnley man is uncapped Foster has eight appearances to his name for the Three Lions.

“I think Roy has come out and said he is aware of Ben but he seems to have Tom ahead of him at this stage and hopefully that remains the case,” said Beresford, who made almost 350 appearances for Burnley across three spells at Turf Moor.

“That is the only question mark, whether Roy goes with Tom or Ben, but Tom appears to have been in the driving seat.

“He’s certainly done himself no harm with his performances. I’m sure Roy or one of his scouts will have been at recent games and seen his consistency so I think he will get the nod.”

Heaton’s record of 20 clean sheets this season was one more than the promotion campaign of 2013/14 and he has now started 130 successive league games for the Clarets since arriving on a free transfer from Bristol City.

Beresford believes regular football has made the former Manchester United youngster a better goalkeeper, and warned he could get better yet.

“That’s what playing every week gives you, especially at that level,” he said of Heaton’s improvement at Turf Moor. “He’s been in lower teams before, struggling against relegation, but he’s come on leaps and bounds here.

“He’s always had a good game, his background is impressive at Manchester United, so he always had the ability coming from a club like that.

“With goalkeepers you tend to get better with age and Tom certainly seems to be ticking that box.

“He’s barely halfway through his career, he’s got years ahead of him and will get better still with experience and that knowhow, and the positioning improves.”

As well as his ability between the sticks Heaton’s reputation in the dressing room could also help him get the nod from Hodgson.

He received the captain’s armband at Turf Moor from Sean Dyche after Jason Shackell’s departure last summer and has shown his leadership skills this term.

“It’s not often a manager makes the goalkeeper captain but it says a lot for what the manager and people at the club think of Tom,” said Beresford.

“He’s obviously a leader, which is why he been given that position. It’s indicative of his stature of the club and what everyone thinks of him and it’s backed up by his performances as well.”