Tom HEATON (Cardiff City)

D.O.B.

15-04-1986

Birthplace

Chester

Height

6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)

Position

Goalkeeper

Signed

15-08-2009

Fee

Loan

Former Clubs

Manchester United, Swindon Town (L), Royal Antwerp (L), Cardiff City (L)

International

England U21 (3)

Pen Pic

The young keeper came up through the ranks at Manchester United, through the youth set-up mainly playing second fiddle to Luke Steele.

He signed as a trainee in 2002, and by 2004-05 he started to feature a little more for the reserves as he vyed for his place with Steele.

Heaton was sent out on loan to Swindon Town in 2005, saving a penalty on his Robins debut. This prompted Huddersfield Town to make an approach, rebuffed by Manchester United.

With limited first team opportunity at Old Trafford, Heaton joined Cardiff City on loan and a good spell at Ninian Park was interupted with persistent injury.

He however started and ended the season as Cardiff City's first choice keeper with Stuart Taylor shipping six goals against the side that pipped them to the playoffs on goal difference, Preston North End.

With Queens Park Rangers struggling for a reserve goalkeeper at the beginning of the season, the keeper was signed as back-up for Radek Cerny and sat on the bench for the fixture against Plymouth Argyle.

He has made two QPR appearances thus far against Accrington Stanley and Chelsea in the Carling Cup, before returning to Manchester and being loaned out to League Two Rochdale.