Tom Heaton delves into new role in the dressing room | OneFootball

Manchester United veteran Tom Heaton has opened up on his new role in Ruben Amorim’s leadership group.

United experience

The 39-year-old spent from 2002-2010 at the club in various youth teams.

He failed to make a start for the first team though and went on to enjoy successful spells at clubs like Burnley and Aston Villa.

Heaton rejoined the club back in 2021 as a third choice keeper and has made three senior appearances during his return.

New leadership group

It was announced during pre-season that Ruben Amorim had chosen a six-man leadership group to help organise the dressing room and Heaton was a member of this leadership team.

Speaking on The Training Ground Guru podcast, Heaton explained his role in detail.

He claimed, “for me I think, as a senior player, you try and influence the different players, the group, the staff members in a positive way. I think with my own personal background at the football club, my role is to try and give people an understanding of the values, what has gone on previously, what it takes, where are ambitions are, what the demands are.”

The keeper also added that he feels lucky to have been able to “grow up at the football club and see it during a very successful period very closely.”

Commenting on why the new leadership group came about he stated, “so in terms of the new leadership group, you know it was a new season, the manager was starting out, he wanted some support around him and the captain Bruno Fernandes to help and he has really given the new leadership group some power in and around the dressing room.”

Responsibility

Heaton alluded to the fact that perhaps responsibility has been an issue at the club in previous dressing rooms with his next comments.

The veteran claimed the leadership group has had a “big effect on the players and to take some responsibility. That’s probably the key word here, making sure that players and especially the leadership group take responsibility for what is going on.”

United will take on Chelsea at Old Trafford on Saturday at 17:30 BST in what already feels like a vital clash in the season.

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