to football for Aston Villa U23s – in a 2–2 draw away at Burnley U23s in the Premier League 2. On 26 December 2020, Heaton returned to the first team squad for the first time since his injury, featuring as an unused substitute in a 3–0 home win over Crystal Palace. On 28 May 2021, it was announced that Heaton would leave Aston Villa at the end of his contract. Return to Manchester United Following his release by Aston Villa, Heaton agreed to return to Manchester United on 2 July 2021, 11 years after first leaving them. He signed a two-year contract with the option of an extra year. On 8 December 2021, Heaton finally made his first-team debut, replacing Dean Henderson in the 68th minute of the 2021–22 UEFA Champions League match against Young Boys. On 10 January 2023, Heaton started his first match for United in the EFL Cup game against Charlton Athletic, keeping a clean sheet in a 3–0 victory to help United qualify for the semi-finals. On 1 February 2023, he started in the second leg of the semi-final against Nottingham Forest, keeping another clean sheet as his team won 2–0 on the night (5–0 on aggregate) to reach the final. International career Having played for England at various youth levels, Heaton was handed his England under-21 debut in March 2008 by manager Stuart Pearce when he replaced Joe Hart as a substitute during a match against Poland. However, he did not make the final squad for the 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. On 21 May 2015, Heaton was called up to the England senior team for the first time ahead of a friendly against the Republic of Ireland and a UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying match against Slovenia. Heaton continued to be included in Roy Hodgson's squads before finally making his debut as an 87th-minute substitute in place of Fraser Forster in England's Euro 2016 warm-up match against Australia, played at Sunderland's Stadium of Light. He was named in the squad for the UEFA Euro 2016 and wore the number 23. On 16 May 2018, he was one of five players named on standby for the 23-man England squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Heaton was also part of the squad which finished third at the 2018–19 UEFA Nations League finals in Portugal, England's best major international achievement since UEFA Euro 1968. Career statistics Club