The pair have been named by Gareth Southgate for the start of England’s European Championship 2020 qualifying campaign.

England kick off their Group A programme with a home tie against the Czech Republic at Wembley on Friday, 22 March before going to Montenegro on Monday, 25 March.

Heaton is recalled for the first time since winning his third England cap against France in Paris in June, 2017, while Tarkowski returns after missing the last two rounds of internationals in the autumn.

“I’m absolutely delighted to be back in the squad,” said Heaton, whose call-up follows an impressive return to club duty since he regained his place in goal for the Clarets at the end of December.

“It had been a tough spell in my career, but I’ve worked hard day-to-day and it’s a good marker to show that work has paid off.

“Along with getting back for Burnley, it’s something I’ve kept striving for and being part of the preparations for the World Cup was a major boost at the end of last season.

“Now I’ve managed to get back in, hopefully this is the start of another journey in international football.”

Heaton, 32, was placed on stand-by for last summer’s World Cup Finals after recovering from the dislocated shoulder that cost him his place in the Burnley side and opened the door for team-mate Nick Pope to go to the tournament in France where Southgate’s side reached the semi-finals.

Tarkowski had to withdraw from the stand-by group to undergo surgery on a hernia problem which dogged him at the start of the current campaign.

But the centre-back is also back to fitness and form and having won a second cap against Switzerland last September, will be looking to try and add to that tally over the next fortnight.

“I’m delighted to be back in the squad,” said Tarkowski. “I missed the last couple and it’s never a given that you are going to make the squad, so it was a good feeling to receive the message and I’m really looking forward to it.

“Once you have been involved once or twice you get the feeling and you want more, so I’m really delighted to be involved again

“It’s great that the skipper is there too. It’s not been easy for him and the fact he’s come back in and done so well for Burnley is a great testament to his character.”

Tarkowksi and Pope have previously been selected together, but this is the first time he and Heaton have been named in the same squad.

And after the success of the World Cup and the Nations League – with England playing in the finals this summer – Tarkowksi is keen to play a part in the quest to reach the 2020 Euro Finals, which are being hosted across Europe with the final at Wembley.

“There is an opportunity to go there now and show what I can do,” added the 26-year-old.

“For the team and the country it’s the start of another big European campaign for a squad that has really been progressing over the last couple of years, so it’s an exciting time to be involved again.”

England squad:

Goalkeepers: Tom Heaton, Jack Butland, Jordan Pickford

Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ben Chilwell, Michael Keane, Harry Maguire, Danny Rose, Luke Shaw, John Stones, Kieran Trippier, Kyle Walker, James Tarkowski

Midfielders: Ross Barkley, Dele Alli, Fabian Delph, Eric Dier, Jordan Henderson, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Declan Rice

Forwards: Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Raheem Sterling, Callum Wilson

POS	Team	PL	PTS
15	FOR	5	5
16	BUR	5	4
17	BRE	5	4

POS	Team	PL	PTS
15	FOR	5	5
16	BUR	5	4
17	BRE	5	4

England Call For Clarets Pair

Premier League table

Related news

Related news

FAN BANNED FOR LIFE

CLARETS STORE FESTIVE OPENING HOURS

MATCH PREVIEW: MILLWALL V BURNLEY

Premier League table