Tom Heaton 'thoroughly enjoyed' rare opportunity for Manchester United

Goalkeeper made his first start for Red Devils in League Cup win over Charlton Athletic

Manchester United goalkeeper Tom Heaton during the League Cup quarter-final win against Charlton Athletic at Old Trafford. Getty

It has taken a while, but Manchester United goalkeeper Tom Heaton, 36, made his first start in Tuesday’s 3-0 League Cup win against Charlton Athletic. We spoke to him after the game.

How was your starting debut over 20 years after your United reserve debut?

I have to say that it has been frustrating not playing. I was ready all the time, I knew that opportunities would be limited, so when you get an opportunity you try and take it. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

How did you think you did?

I felt solid. It has been a while since I played and it takes a few minutes to get back into your stride, but I’ve felt ready all along. I felt good in the pre-season friendlies and mid-season friendlies that we played. We’ve had a few games at the training ground where the manager has put me in and I felt good in those. I know you haven’t seen too much of me but I have felt at it and I enjoyed it tonight.

The main aim of the evening was to get through to the next round. I thought Charlton did a good job and made things difficult, but we went about our business really well and I’m delighted to be in the semi-final.

Did you ever go to the manager and say ‘I think I should be playing?’

We’ve had plenty of conversations. He talks to everyone. I saw opportunities and was slightly frustrated not to play in the earlier rounds. I had a bad time with injury in fairness so I was actually out for the first game and was coming back for the second when Martin [Dubravka] came in and did well.

It’s unfortunate when things don’t fall your way but I’m chomping at the bit to play games and get opportunities. They’ve been limited so far in my 18 months back at the club, but I’ve never taken my eyes off the ball and when I had the opportunity I really enjoyed it.

Manchester United's Marcus Rashford celebrates with teammates after scoring the second goal in the 3-0 League Cup quarter-final win against Charlton Athletic at Old Trafford on January 10, 2023. AP

Marcus Rashford scores United's third goal past Charlton goalkeeper Ashley Maynard-Brewer. AP

Marcus Rashford celebrates scoring the second goal. AFP

Marcus Rashford celebrates after scoring United's second goal. AP

United midfielder Antony celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal. AFP

Antony, right, celebrates with Diogo Dalot. AP

Antony celebrates after scoring the opening goal. AP

'Fred The Red' greets Manchester United's Dutch manager Erik ten Hag before the match. AFP

United defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka tackles Charlton's Corey Blackett-Taylor. AFP

Fred hits the post with a free-kick. AFP

Anthony Elanga of Manchester United battles for possession with Lucas Ness. Getty

Charlton Athletic's Scott Fraser takes a free kick. Reuters

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag with Christian Eriksen. Reuters

Charlton's Australian goalkeeper Ashley Maynard-Brewer gathers the ball. AFP

United's Dutch defender Tyrell Malacia battles with Charlton's Jesurun Rak-Sakyi. AFP

How do you see United’s goalkeeping situation?

I think he [manager Erik ten Hag] has been very clear for us in terms of he always sees it as performance-based throughout the squad and you can sort of see that in his selections since he’s been at the club. He wants competition for places and that comes down to making decisions on how players are performing. I think he’s been pretty strong with that through the whole squad.

When you see that as a player it’s great, you see players coming into the team when they deserve it, perhaps getting a rest when they need a bit of a breather and you sort of get that it’s down to the players with the shirt at that time and it’s down to the performance.

That’s been a clear message from him, there’s nothing different from our side of the fence, he’s been great in saying it’s performance based across the squad.

Do you have a bigger role to play in the squad other than being a back-up goalkeeper?

I hope so, I’ve played a fair bit of football over my career, I’m a little bit older than some of them. Which is great, that’s an important part of it, I enjoy that part of it, I was captain at previous clubs. I do quite enjoy that side of it.

But for me the priority is always the playing, it doesn’t go away. It can be hard at times. At the end of the day I’m always a big believer in the team and supporting David [de Gea], who has been playing most of the time, and giving him everything in support.

But it still comes back to the personal side of wanting to play and that drive to do that, the other stuff is there but it’s probably secondary. I’m also a realist, I knew the situation coming in. I’m not saying I’ll be banging on his door every week to get in the team, but you still want the opportunities to play so it’s a good night for that, I thoroughly enjoyed it. To have that feeling back out playing brings a new energy in your body.

United v Charlton ratings

MANCHESTER UNITED PLAYER RATINGS: Tom Heaton – 7. His first Manchester United start over 20 years since he made his reserve debut for the club. The 36-year-old was confident when needed towards the end of the first and throughout the second half as Charlton became more emboldened. Clean sheet. PA

Diogo Dalot – 6. Swept a shot over after 3 minutes, got forward (like every player) then came off injured after 34 minutes. AFP

Harry Maguire – 7. Hit passes to Garnacho on the left before Charlton wised up to how effective it was. Booked after 79 following a block as he moved back towards his own goal after a run forward with the ball. AFP

Lisandro Martinez – 6. Ten thousand Charlton fans cheered when the World Cup winner put the ball out by mistake. He smiled. Headed wide after 56. A full game to his name and now the really serious stuff starts again – with Saturday’s Manchester derby. AFP

Tyrell Malacia – 6. Poor corners. Final ball lacking. Booked for a foul as Charlton attacked after 75th minute. Getty

Scott McTominay – 6. Didn’t convince against a third-tier team. Passing accuracy the lowest in the team. AFP

Fred – 8. Shot blocked after eight minutes, then he ran across the area with the ball, releasing it to Antony to score. Stunning free-kick dipped over the wall and struck the post on 34. Engine of the team. AP

Antony – 6. Put United ahead after 20 minutes of pressure, curling a ball from Fred into the top corner past Maynard-Brewer. Zipped a similar effort wide after 54, but still to convince many fans. AP

Kobbie Mainoo – 6. First team debut for the Mancunian and the 17-year-old midfielder didn’t disappoint. A valuable experience for him. PA

Alejandro Garnacho – 8. Lit up Old Trafford at the start. Set up Dalot with a chance after three and then went for goal himself after six minutes, beating a man and shooting over. A sweeping 64th minute shot was well saved, while an 80th minute run set up Eriksen. Getty

Anthony Elanga – 5. No goals in his last 30 appearances. Put the ball in the net after half time but was offside. Not making the same impact as a year ago. Getty

SUBS: Aaron Wan Bissaka (Dalot 34’) – 7. Super tackle on Blackett-Taylor before half time to stop a rare Charlton attack. Crossed for Elanga, who was offside. Not popular with the huge Charlton support as he used to play for their South London rivals Crystal Palace. Getty

Casemiro (Mainoo 60’) – 8. Brought on as Ten Hag sent his big guns out. Fraser was battling to get the ball off him. Couple of stunning crossfield passes – one led to the second. His lofted ball forward to Rashford assisted the third. Reuters

Marcus Rashford (Antony 60’) – 8. Kept up his recent prolific scoring record with the second, controlling a Pellistri ball and scoring with his right foot. Added his second of the night in the 93rd minute, a left footed finish. He’s on fire. AFP

Christian Eriksen (Fred 60’) – 7. Placed a ball across the goal on 71. Shot on target after 83. AFP

Facundo Pellistri (Elanga 84’) – 8. Some very rare minutes – it was his competitive debut and he signed in 2020 - for the fleet-heeled Uruguayan. Lively cameo where he showed his skills several times. Set up the goal for Rashford. AP

CHARLTON PLAYER RATINGS: Ashley Maynard-Brewer – 7. Could do very little about any of United’s three goals. Made a superb stop from Eriksen with a few minutes remaining in what was generally a fine outing. AFP

Sean Clare – 7. Struggled early on against the dangerous Garnacho, who generally had the beating of the right-back. Improved drastically in the second period, winning individual duels with some impressive tackles. AFP

Ryan Inniss – 6. Solid in the heart of the Charlton defence. Led the relatively young backline well for the first 80 minutes or so. Getty

Lucas Ness – 6. The former Metropolitan Police defender provided one of the best storylines of the night. In just his 13th first-team appearance for Charlton, the 20-year-old didn’t look at all out of place, keeping his composure as United piled the pressure on. AP

Steven Sessegnon – 6. The former England U17 international was one of the standout players from the first half, contributing with some vital interceptions and blocks. AP

Albie Morgan – 8. Provided great energy and industry in the Charlton midfield. The 22-year-old was subbed off in the second period having made a stellar contribution to the game. Getty

George Dobson – 7. Showcased excellent defensive awareness, helping to shield the backline and shut down the likes of Fred centrally. A very tidy display indeed, even if he did tire towards the end. PA

Scott Fraser – 7. Charlton’s chief creative outlet, providing both excellent passing and crossing from deep. More often than not, counters by the League One side came courtesy of the Scottish playmaker. Getty

Jerusun Rak-Sakyi – 7. A direct runner with the ball, dribbling past his man on several occasions - even winning a handful of free-kicks in dangerous positions in the process. The Crystal Palace loanee is certainly one to watch for the future. AP

Miles Leaburn – 6. A willing runner in behind, but he often cut an isolated figure as through balls and passes went astray. A night of what-ifs for the 19-year-old forward. Reuters

Corey Blackett-Taylor – 5. Arguably at fault for Antony’s opener, having failed to close the Brazilian down quickly enough. The winger also didn’t provide too much of an outlet down the left. AFP

SUBS: Eoghan O’Connell (Blackett-Taylor 61’) – 6. Offered good runs in behind on the counter. Getty

Jack Payne (Morgan 66’) – 6. The midfielder worked tirelessly having come on for the final 25 minutes or so. PA

Aaron Henry (Rak-Sakyi 82’) – N/A. Came on for the final few minutes. AFP

Jayden Stockley (Sessegnon 82’) – N/A. Provided fresh legs. Getty

Bruno Fernandes mentioned you as being a leader. Was that nice to hear?

It is, we’ve got a really good atmosphere in the dressing room, we’ve got some great characters in there, a good, tight unit. It’s been improving throughout my time here. Obviously results help, of course it does. There are some incredibly talented footballers in there but they’re all people at the end of the day and I think we all need a quiet word here and there, or a strong word depending on the scenario. Hopefully, I can offer that at times to certain individuals and I’d expect them to offer it to me as well.

Are you in the leadership group?

That was one of the things Erik started, five, six players. There has not been much of it recently. Harry as captain, Bruno as vice-captain, some of the senior lads involved in it. But if I’m honest that was more when he was setting his stall out at the start. He has been clear in his messaging, what he wants. He is very, very direct, which is brilliant for players, you know where you stand and what your responsibilities are. So it is not a major feature to be honest, more about the vibe of the group.

How has that changed from the chaos of last season?

He has brought a clear messaging, clear lines of what’s acceptable and what’s not. The responsibility on everyone, the professional side of it, and when you cross it he’s there to put you back in your place. I also think off the back of that we’ve been a little bit more successful so far, nobody is getting carried away, one game at a time. But when results are improving and everything is moving forward a little bit more, everyone is on the bandwagon and pushing for that and wanting that. So that’s been a key feature, his strength in what’s acceptable and what’s not acceptable and carrying that through.

Does that genuinely translate to on pitch actions – and he has same approach no matter a player’s status?

Exactly. Everyone has a different view on it, that would be fair. My personal view is that I think that really does make a difference. When there is a consequence to players, a discipline, you know not to cross the line – if you do you’ll be out. I think Marcus’s response in that game was absolutely incredible. That’s the sort of thing it generates when it’s all moving in that direction. So for me yes it does translate to the pitch.