Tom Heaton has voiced strong support for Manchester United teammate Senne Lammens, insisting the young goalkeeper will emerge stronger after his late error cost Belgium a place in the World Cup semi-finals.
Lammens, 24, had served as Thibaut Courtois’ understudy throughout the tournament but was thrust into action when the veteran keeper was injured in the 71st minute of the quarter-final against Spain.
With minutes remaining, Lammens spilled a shot from Pau Cubarsi, allowing Arsenal’s Mikel Merino to score the decisive goal in a 2-1 Spanish victory.
Despite heavy criticism in Belgium, United’s confidence in the £18.1m signing from Royal Antwerp remains unshaken. Heaton, 40, who signed a one-year extension this summer, said he spoke with the distraught shot-stopper after the final whistle.
“That’s the life of a goalkeeper,” Heaton told reporters following United’s pre-season friendly loss to Wrexham. “He’ll be stronger for it. His personality is fantastic for a goalkeeper. I honestly think it can help him in the long run.”
Lammens is now on a three-week break and is expected to return to training in early August, potentially making him available for the club’s friendly against Paris St-Germain on Aug. 8. United signed veteran Karl Darlow, 35, as backup on July 14, but Heaton emphasised that Lammens has the mental resilience to move past the setback.
“Senne is very strong mentally,” Heaton added. “I saw that from him as a young keeper coming into United and dealing with it unbelievably well.”
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