Aheed Abrar
Tom Heaton delighted to make full Manchester United debut in win over Charlton Athletic
Manchester United veteran Tom Heaton is delighted to have been handed his full debut for the Red Devils in the win over Charlton Athletic in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals.
The 36-year-old made his first start for the Old Trafford side against the League One outfit at home on Tuesday (10 January). We proceeded to beat the Addicks 3-0 and the English shot-stopper kept a clean sheet.
Speaking after the fixture to MUTV (h/t Manchester Evening News), Heaton expressed his frustration at having to wait for some game time. However, the goalkeeper is grateful to have started against Charlton.
“I have been back at the club for 18 months and opportunities have been a bit difficult to come by. It was slightly frustrating not to play in the previous round [against Burnley]; I had a small injury at the time and obviously Martin [Dubravka] played in the first game [against Aston Villa], so played the second game.
“But thankfully I was in the shirt tonight. Of course you try and take the opportunity and, as I say, I really enjoyed it and hopefully there will be many more to come.”
It was seemingly a long overdue moment for the 36-year-old. The English national made his way through the youth ranks at United. When the shot-stopper was previously on the Red Devils’ books, he spent most of the time out on loan.
Then in the summer of 2010, Heaton decided to sign for Cardiff City. After spending years in the lower leagues, the 36-year-old got the opportunity to regularly feature in the Premier League with Burnley.
The English national then spent a few years in Aston Villa before making his way to Manchester in the summer of 2021. However, the goalkeeper has not featured much for the Old Trafford side since then.
Heaton had the opportunity to get on the pitch for United as a substitute in the Champions League group stage match against BSC Young Boys last season. The 36-year-old replaced Dean Henderson in the 68th minute of the 1-1 draw.
However, since then, the game against Charlton was the English national’s first appearance for the Red Devils. He looks comfortable and commanding in aerial duels. Martin Dubravaka started in the previous two rounds of the Carabao Cup. However, the 33-year-old’s loan move was cut short this month.
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David de Gea has been the preferred choice in between the sticks for Erik ten Hag. We have also brought Jack Butland from Crystal Palace for the rest of the campaign. Therefore, it remains to be seen how many more opportunities Heaton gets at United.
