Bruno Fernandes called him 'one of the most important players in the dressing room' and his influence has been vital this season in harmonising the squad under Erik ten Hag, but generally Tom Heaton will fly under the radar at Manchester United.
In a squad packed with star names, with World Cup winners and Champions League medals, the 36-year-old goalkeeper from Chester doesn't necessarily bring that level of glamour to United's dressing room, but don't mistake being on the fringes of the team to being any less important.
Ten Hag spotted Heaton's value when he arrived in the summer, adding the three-cap England international to a leadership group and reaping the rewards of that decision. Heaton was a club captain at Burnley during their most successful times and nobody at Turf Moor has a bad word to say about him. He was considered the player who would drive standards and discipline in the dressing room under Sean Dyche and is now embracing similar responsibilities back at United.
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One of the most memorable stories of his time with the Clarets came two days after his heroic performance against United, when his saves earned Burnley a goalless draw at Old Trafford at the end of October 2016, including one spectacular stop to deny Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
After that performance on the Saturday, he launched his own range of gloves for the first time on the Monday, appearing in person at the club shop at Turf Moor to meet a growing throng of supporters. Nobody left disappointed, with Heaton staying there for five hours after training to meet every fan, sign autographs and pose for selfies.
That is an example of why he is liked throughout the game as one of the sport's good guys, but he couples that with a steely determination and although his first start in his second coming at United only arrived in the Carabao Cup quarter-final on Tuesday, he still feels heavily invested in the success of the group and it is understood he is enjoying his second season back at the club far more than the first.
He has a close relationship with Fernandes, as evidenced by the Portuguese's Instagram post after Heaton's performance on Tuesday, and speaking to The Athletic in September, the vice-captain brought up the experienced goalkeeper's role in the group.
"For me, he is one that is really important in the dressing room," he said. "One of the most important players in the dressing room that most of the people will not think or care about. But he's someone that is really important as a player, as a leader in the dressing room."
Heaton spoke to reporters in the mixed zone after the win against Charlton and provided the most balanced and insightful view yet on Ten Hag's time at United and, in particular, his no-nonsense approach to discipline in the squad. He was also asked about his role in that leadership group put together by the United manager.
"That was one of the things he started, five, six players. There has not been much of it recently," said Heaton.
"Harry as captain, Bruno as vice-captain, some of the senior lads involved in it. But if I’m honest that was more when he was setting his stall out at the start.
"He has been clear in his messaging, what he wants, he is very, very direct, which is brilliant for players, you know where you stand and what your responsibilities are. So it is not a major feature to be honest, more about the vibe of the group."
Heaton said of his own leadership role behind the scenes that "I enjoy that part of it" and he is a popular member of the dressing room. His own interpretation of what it entails gave an insight into his 'team-first' ethos.
"There are some incredibly talented footballers in there but they’re all people at the end of the day and I think we all need a quiet word here and there, or a strong word depending on the scenario. Hopefully, I can offer that at times to certain individuals."
Ten Hag keeps his options open when it comes to second and third-choice goalkeepers, but Heaton was unfortunate to miss out on Carabao Cup action before Christmas when an untimely injury ruled him out of the Aston Villa game in round three when he was likely to play.
Martin Dubravka, who started that game and the fourth-round tie with Burnley, has since returned to Newcastle and Jack Butland has been added to the group, but Heaton deserves to keep the gloves for the two-leg semi-final against Nottingham Forest. If United progress then perhaps an appearance at Wembley in the final might be considered a fitting end.
Heaton turns 37 in April and his contract expires in the summer, but there are valid reasons for United and Ten Hag to offer him a new deal for one more year. He insists he has felt good and ready to go throughout his 18 months at Old Trafford and goalkeepers have greater longevity in general.
At a time of flux in the goalkeeping department, with Butland's loan from Crystal Palace until the end of the season and Dean Henderson likely to be sold in the summer, keeping Heaton would mean United need only one more goalkeeper in the summer, presuming a new deal is agreed with David de Gea.
Then there is the leadership. Heaton is understood to have been one of the key figures in the dressing room since Ten Hag's arrival, knitting the squad together after a difficult year last season. He is a driver of standards behind the scenes and someone who has the respect of his teammates.
He might not be a regular on the pitch, or a name to match the buzz that some of his teammates generate, but he has been a valuable presence this season.
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