TOM Heaton has thrown his Burnley future into doubt after admitting he will 'keep his options open' in the January transfer window.

The club captain has found himself on the bench during the Clarets' Premier League season, with his only appearances coming in both legs of the Europa League play-off round clash with Olympiakos and in the Carabao Cup defeat to Burton Albion.

But Heaton has expressed his disappointment at not starting the opening Premier League game of the season against Southampton following the arrival of Joe Hart.

With Nick Pope also on the road back to fitness one of Burnley's three England goalkeepers could be forced to leave the club and that could be Heaton.

“Joe was thrown in against Istanbul Basaksehir in the Europa League. The manager then kept him in for the ­weekend for the first Premier League game of the season at Southampton, which was frustrating for me," Heaton told the Sunday Mirror.

“I can’t lie. That was tough. ­Obviously, I knew Joe well and have great respect for him, but, to be perfectly honest, I was ­expecting to play.”

“It doesn’t need a rocket scientist to see that it’s going to be difficult to fit us all in.

“Come the January transfer window, I’ve got to keep my ­options open. The one thing I’ve been consistent about in my career is moving clubs in order to play games.”