Tom Heaton hails Joe Hart as Burnley's player of the season

Tom Heaton believes he has taken the gloves from Burnley's player of the season.

The club captain inspired the Clarets to victory over West Ham on his first league start in 476 days — a recall which saw Joe Hart relegated to the bench and triggered questions over the former England keeper's future.

Heaton pulled off a number of stunning saves as Sean Dyche's side ended a miserable run of results.

But he feels sympathy for Hart. 'Joe has been my player of the season so far,' Heaton said. 'It's sometimes difficult to see that through the results and the goals going in, but that's my opinion.'

Hart signed a two-year deal at Burnley in the summer and had started all 19 Premier League matches so far. But with Burnley leaking goals, manager Sean Dyche made his move.

'I'm delighted to be back out there,' said Heaton, who lost his own place thanks to a dislocated shoulder and the subsequent emergence of teammate Nick Pope.

'Since I've been given the nod I've been buzzing — singing and dancing while doing the dishes,' Heaton said.

Heaton pulled off a wonder save late on in Sunday's 2-0 win to deny Andy Carroll and preserve Burnley's lead. The save brought Hart to his feet on the bench.

'I had his backing 100 per cent and it was the same the other way around,' Heaton said. 'He's been absolutely brilliant in difficult circumstances.'

Burnley, a point from safety, go to fellow relegation battlers Huddersfield tomorrow night, with Heaton predicting an unpredictable remainder of the season. 'I don't think everything's going to be cupcakes and rainbows. But I think we're going to need that heart, that desire from every single player during that 90 minutes and see where it takes us. We want to stay in the Premier League.'