Tom Heaton is backing Manchester United team-mate Senne Lammens to emerge as a stronger character from his World Cup disappointment.
Lammens had been back-up to Thibaut Courtois throughout the tournament until the veteran Belgium goalkeeper was injured 19 minutes from the end of the quarter-final against Spain.
The 24-year-old had barely touched the ball before he spilled Pau Cubarsi’s shot late in the game, which allowed Arsenal’s Mikel Merino to steer home and give Spain a 2-1 victory.
Lammens was distraught at the final whistle and Heaton has spoken to the youngster, who was outstanding at United last season after arriving as a relative unknown from Royal Antwerp in preference to Argentina’s Emi Martinez, for £18.1m.
“Yes, I spoke to him,” said Heaton after Manchester United’s opening pre-season defeat by Wrexham in Helsinki.
“It was obviously a challenging moment for him, but that’s the life of a goalkeeper.
“As soon as you put the gloves on and go between the sticks, you have to be ready to deal with that.
“He’ll be stronger for it. I think his personality is fantastic for a goalkeeper, so no issues there. As I say, I honestly think it can help him in the long run.”
Lammens is now on a three-week break before returning to pre-season training.
It means he should return in the first week of August and, in theory, be available for the Gothenburg encounter with Paris St-Germain on 8 August.
Despite the criticism Lammens received in Belgium for his error, at United, confidence in the youngster remains strong.
Karl Darlow, 35, was signed as back-up to Lammens on 14 July and while Heaton, 40, still views himself as a player after signing a one-year deal in the summer, his last competitive senior appearance was in February 2023.
“I highly doubt Senne will be going into it with fear or worrying about what may happen,” said Heaton.
“That can happen at any point. Literally every time you cross the foot over the earth. If that was your mindset, I’d be inclined to say it’s more likely to happen.
“Goalkeeper is a position where if something goes wrong, it’s going to end in a goal. Goals can change games and cause you to lose. You have to be realistic about that.
“It is tough, but Senne is very strong mentally. I saw that from him as a young goalkeeper coming into Manchester United and dealing with it unbelievably well.”
