New Premier League ball is 'too greasy' to handle, fears Burnley goalkeeper Tom Heaton

Nike's new design becomes dangerously slippy when wet according to the England international

Nike's Ordem 4 will be the official ball of the 2016/17 Premier League season (Getty)

Premier League goalkeepers are facing a battle to keep their hands on the official ball for the 2016-17 season, with Burnley and England ‘keeper Tom Heaton claiming that the new Nike Ordem 4 is ‘too greasy’ to handle.

Nike, who have provided the official Premier League ball since 2000, have provided all 20 top flight clubs with the newly-designed ball since the start of pre-season training in July.

But despite working with it for over a month, Burnley captain Heaton, whose team face Swansea City at Turf Moor in Saturday’s first game of the season, insists that although the Ordem 4 flies straighter than most balls, it becomes dangerously slippy when wet.

"After two weeks with it, you could see that it is a little bit greasier when it gets wet, which is never great as a goalkeeper,” Heaton said. “It is what it is and it's something you can't control.

"You try and get as used to it as possible -- it's your job to keep it out of the net and you find a way to do it.

“Don't get me wrong, it's a very good ball this season and there are 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.”

Nike have billed their new ball as the "most innovative, technologically advanced and aerodynamically tuned ball to date.’

Heaton with one of the new balls and Leicester City's Wes Morgan (Getty)

But Heaton admits that goalkeepers have now become accustomed to technology favouring the forwards when it comes to designing new footballs.

“As keepers, we usually have a day where we say, 'here we go again,’ but you quickly get your head around it.” he said. "I actually prefer this ball 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 Euro 2016 ball.

"That was one of the most difficult that I've worked with. If it doesn't fly true, it's difficult in goal.

"There are lots of these fine details and the Euros ball was all over the show. It makes it difficult, especially with the way players kick it these days and the power they generate.

“A lot of them try the wobble free-kick, but you just have to deal with it as best you can.”

Heaton, who signed a new four-year contract at Turf Moor last month, goes into the campaign accepting that, despite being promoted as winners of the Championship last season, Sean Dyche’s team have been billed as favourites to go down.

But having won his first senior England cap against Australia in May, prior to being named as third-choice goalkeeper in Roy Hodgson’s Euro 2016 squad, Heaton believes a busy season in the Premier League with Burnley can boost his prospects of impressing new England manager Sam Allardyce.

“Going down to the Championship, I'd be lying if I said I didn't think it would harm my chances with England,” Heaton said. “But thankfully, they stuck with me and I kept trying to focus on my performances, trying to get that in line.

"But playing at the higher level, as long as you're performing, will hopefully give me a good chance with England.

"I enjoyed the Euros. Pre-tournament, I managed to get on and get my cap, which was fantastic and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, it was brilliant to be there at a major tournament.

“Obviously, the last game was disappointing, but before that everything was in place. It was just one of those things football can throw up.

“But going forward, I certainly want to be involved. Having had a taste of it, I'm hungry for more.

"Obviously, with a new manager, you never know what his thoughts are, but all I can really do is get my performance right and that's what I'll be focusing on.”

That, and the greasy ball.