Burnley favourite Tom Heaton is set for a sensational return to Manchester United.

The 35-year-old hasn’t played any competitive football since being taken off on a stretcher when playing for Aston Villa at Turf Moor on New Year’s Day 2020.

He tore his anterior cruciate ligament in what was his 20th appearance for Villa following an £8 move from Burnley in the summer of 2019.

That brought the curtain down on a tremendous six-year service in Clarets colours for Heaton who played 200 games since arriving on a free transfer in 2013, twice helping the club to promotion from the Championship and subsequently establishing themselves in the Premier League.

The form of Nick Pope, and a battle for an England spot as well as one at Turf Moor, saw Heaton move to the Midlands, but following his injury and the signing of Emi Martinez from Arsenal, he has fallen down the pecking order at Villa Park and is set to become a free agent.

A goalkeeping spot at Manchester United is set to open up this summer, the club where Heaton came through the ranks but left in 2010 without making a senior appearance.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is thought to be on the look-out for a back-up options to Dean Henderson and David De Gea, with Sergio Romero set to move on at the end of his contract, and Lee Grant’s deal also set to expire.

The experienced Heaton offers knowledge of the Premier League, as well as a homegrown option, with reports that a deal is close to take him back to Old Trafford.