Burnley goalkeeper Tom Heaton has confirmed he could leave the club in January as he tries to find more first-team football.

The England international has dropped down the pecking order at Turf Moor after suffering a shoulder injury last season.

The problem kept him out for almost a year and Nick Pope stepped in under manager Sean Dyche.

His performances were rewarded with a spot at the World Cup before Dyche then signed Joe Hart in the summer.

Hart is now the regular starter in Lancashire and Heaton admits it is tough being second best at present.

The 32-year-old will be linked with a move in January and he admits he would consider it.

He told the Mirror: “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.

“I felt really at it; back to 100 per cent [at the start of the season]. Then I picked up a slight calf injury and I ended up missing the Europa League games against ­Aberdeen.

“Popey played in them and then he suffered the same injury as me, so the manager decided he would bring in Joe Hart.

“Joe was thrown in against Basaksehir in the Europa League, [and] the manager then kept him in for the first Premier League game of the season at Southampton, which was frustrating for me.

“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.”