Sean Dyche pleased with England call-ups for Burnley trio

Burnley manager Sean Dyche has admitted that he is pleased with England call-ups for three of his players. Tom Heaton and James Tarkowski were recalled to the Three Lions senior squad after their consistent performances since the turn of the year and the same was the case for Dwight McNeil, who was afforded his maiden call-up with the Under 21s.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Dyche said that he has been pleased with the call-ups for the trio and that shows the progress of the club since making the jump to the Premier League, he said: “The number of internationals is a really pleasing side-effect of all the varying success we’ve had over the years. The sheer number of call-ups we get now, compared to when we came, is radically different and particularly with England it had been many a year since a player had been called up. It’s very pleasing for the players, who deserve it, but also pleasing for the club in where it now stands.”

Heaton had a forgettable year with the Clarets last term where he struggled with a shoulder problem and this witnessed his deputy Nick Pope get the nod as the third-choice keeper for England at the World Cup. However, he has managed to win over the manager during the course of the current campaign and the standout performances between the sticks have handed him a comeback with the national side.

It remains to be seen whether he could make his maiden appearance since 2017 but his call-up would surely mount the pressure on Jordan Pickford, who has looked shaky between the sticks for Everton of late. Elsewhere, Tarkowski has managed to overcome injury concerns of his own to make the squad, but he could be restricted to a bench role with John Stones, Harry Maguire and Kyle Walker among the favourites for the central defensive positions.