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Premier League strikers will be praying for rain this season after Burnley goalkeeper Tom Heaton claimed the new Nike ball is trickier than its predecessor when wet. Nike's new Ordem 4 design will be used during the 2016-17 campaign and, while its fluorescent colour palette has attracted the most attention, Heaton has noticed another tricky feature in preseason. The Clarets skipper is happy with the ball, which he believes wobbles less from long-range shots, but expects life to get tricky when the rain comes. "Two weeks in [training] and you can sort of see it's a little bit greasier when it gets wet, which is never great as a goalkeeper,'' he said. "These fine details, there's a lot of them. You just try and get as used to it as possible. Don't get me wrong, it's a very good ball this season, no major issues, but there's always something as a goalie that you look at and this year it is a little bit greasy when it gets wet. "But it's your job to keep it out of the net and you find a way to do it. The ball is something you can't control. "I actually prefer it if I'm honest, I don't know if I should say that but I do. It flies a little bit truer, rather than the old random flight which other balls can do at times, certainly the European Championship ball. "That was one of the most difficult that I've worked with. If it doesn't fly true it's difficult in goal, especially with the way players kick it these days and the power they generate. A lot of them try the wobble free kick.'' Heaton was part of the England squad at Euro 2016, third choice behind Joe Hart and Fraser Forster, and although Jack Butland is fit again, he is hoping to earn a place in Sam Allardyce's setup. Allardyce, who appointed Martyn Margetson as his new goalkeeping coach this week, could review the No. 1 role after Hart's troubled time in France, but Heaton still sees the Manchester City shot-stopper as the man in possession. "To be fair, Joe is the clear No. 1. I don't think that's really been in doubt,'' Heaton said. "In the position of goalkeeper things can easily happen, things go against you ... it's tough. You just carry on as normal, working hard. There's not really anything you can say specifically. We all put the work in but he was the one going out and performing.'' Promoted Burnley start their Premier League season against Swansea on Saturday, with Heaton hoping to impress. He said: "From my point of view, having had a taste of international football, I want more. I've certainly got a hunger to step on, get more caps, keep involved and I'll be putting the work in to do that. "That's certainly the ambition.''
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