Goalkeeper Tom Heaton reckons ‘everything’s looking rosy’ at Manchester United

Tom Heaton believes things are “looking rosy” at Manchester United this season and beyond, praising the new coaching set-up and young talents he requested to play with in Tuesday’s EFL Trophy opener.

Fiercely ambitious Ineos has made widespread changes since taking charge of football operations earlier this year after Sir Jim Ratcliffe bought a stake in the Premier League giants.

United are work in progress but things appear to be heading in the right direction at both first-team and development levels – something Heaton is uniquely placed to assess.

The academy product turned England international returned to Old Trafford in 2021 as and got a first-hand look at their up-and-coming talents when playing in the under-21s’ comeback win at Barnsley on Tuesday evening.

Put to Heaton that things were looking bright for Erik ten Hag’s team and the academy, he told the PA news agency: “It certainly feels that way.

“It’s important we kick on from it and keep that going. It’s the constant cycle and you can’t come off that for one minute.

“I think there’s some real good learning in there for the younger lads tonight about what the levels are. Barnsley are a League One club and were strong in the first half.

“It’s a good marker for them, but they’ve managed to show some resilience, show some quality, come back in the game and win it. I think everything’s looking rosy through the club at the minute.”

Heaton enjoyed his 90-minute run-out in Barnsley, which marked quite the change in surroundings to Berlin five weeks earlier at the Euro 2024 final.

The 38-year-old worked as a training goalkeeper with England throughout the summer and wanted to fine-tune after two pre-season friendly appearances.

“I requested to play – I requested to