Heaven is targeting a breakout season and as he eyes a longer-term path towards the senior England squad, with mentor Harry Maguire's international career appearing to be entering its closing stages.
Heaven, 19, joined United from Arsenal in early 2025 and made his breakthrough during the second half of last season, stepping in whenever Lisandro Martinez, Matthijs de Ligt or Maguire were unavailable through injury or suspension, starting 11 Premier League games in the process. Asked about targeting a place in England's Under-21s squad for next summer's European Championship defence, the centre-back set his sights considerably higher.
"I could push further than that. Maybe try and get into England, the main men's team. The sky's the limit," Heaven said.
"I've just got to keep working hard every day. Harry has helped a lot, he has 20 years of experience. He's always telling me to be vocal so I'm always ready when I get the opportunity to play."
Maguire missed out on Thomas Tuchel's 2026 World Cup squad at 33, a decision widely seen as signalling the beginning of a changing of the guard in England's defence, though Heaven remains realistic about his own timeline having so far progressed only as far as the Under-20 level internationally.
"I'm young and I've got to be patient, especially in my position. You don't see a lot of 19-year-olds playing week in, week out," he said. "I know it's nothing personal and I've just got to be patient. I'm waiting for my opportunity."
With Martinez forced off injured during the World Cup final and de Ligt still recovering from back surgery, Heaven has started alongside Maguire in both of United's pre-season friendlies so far, and is pushing to keep his place for the Premier League opener against Hull City on August 22.
His closest challenger for a starting spot is 20-year-old Frenchman Leny Yoro, though Yoro has instead been deployed at right-back in the matches against Wrexham and Rosenborg while Manchester United's World Cup contingent remain on their break.
"We're both young. We work hard every day in training together and we are close friends off the pitch," Heaven said of his relationship with Yoro.
Michael Carrick's side continue their pre-season schedule as Heaven looks to use the extended run of fixtures to cement his place before England's senior squad reconvenes for the September international break, though a first call-up at that stage remains highly unlikely for the teenager.