Burnley goalkeeper Tom Heaton is full of praise for teammate Joe Hart.

The club captain inspired the Clarets to victory over West Ham on his first league start in 476 days — a recall which saw Hart relegated to the bench and triggered questions over the former England keeper's future.

But he feels sympathy for Hart.

"Joe has been my player of the season so far," Heaton said. "It's sometimes difficult to see that through the results and the goals going in, but that's my opinion."