THOMAS TUCHEL’S first England squad was full of surprises, but perhaps top of the list was his maiden call-up of 32-year-old Dan Burn.
It completed an incredible journey for down-to-earth Burn, who worked for Asda as a teenager pushing trolleys around while his football career stalled.
GettyDan Burn has completed a fairytale story having gone from struggling non-league player to England call-up[/caption]
Burn defied the odds having lost the ring finger on his right hand in a freak accident aged 13Getty
Newcastle United FCFuture Newcastle hero Dan was a huge Toon fan as a kid[/caption]
PA:Empics SportDan Burn got his big break at Fulham, moving from non-league Darlington to the Premier League side in 2011[/caption]
Later this month, the Newcastle star could have his first Three Lions cap in the bag having been selected for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia.
And in so doing, he would be our nation’s oldest debutant since a 33-year-old Kevin Davies made his bow against Montenegro in October 2010.
Burn has been shining for his much-loved Toon ever since joining Eddie Howe’s revolution in a £13million move from Brighton in February 2022.
Those who know him best will say his international recognition is richly-deserved, given the long and arduous path to get to this point.
Burn was born in the Northumberland town of Blyth and was Magpies mad, having a season ticket at St James’ Park and heading down to Wembley for the FA Cup semi-final defeat to Chelsea in 2000.
He was actually on Toon’s books as a kid but then suffered the heartbreak of being released by his boyhood club near Christmas 2003, aged 11.
It was a devastating blow. Yet Burn admitted it was probably the right call when speaking to SunSport back in 2019.
In typically self-deprecating style, the gentle giant said: “I was pretty c**p, if I’m honest.”
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Burn was a very different player back then, quite literally.
Because of his gangly frame, fuelled by his regular diet of fish and chips, he was a goalkeeper up until the age of 14.
Disaster struck around that time when he caught his finger, which had a ring on it, climbing a fence.
It resulted in him losing most of his ring finger on his right hand.
Burn appeared to be hitting a brick wall too at that time with regards his ambitions to be a pro footballer, and played locally while studying for a sports diploma and working at Asda.
The defender said: “Normally the lads who are getting picked up to play in the youth teams are getting picked up around 15,16. I didn’t end up signing for anyone.
“I went to sixth form and went and did a little bit of work. I was working at Asda pushing trolleys.
“If you had said then that I would be in the Premier League, I would have laughed at you.
“It was a little bit more of a different route for me but it helped me become even more determined and focused.”
AlamyBurns, in the orange bib with long hair, celebrates the 2011 FA Trophy win with his Darlington pals[/caption]
Dan Burn went from strength to strength as a stalwart with WiganGetty Images – Getty
AFPDan Burn attracted Newcastle’s attention with his superb form for Brighton[/caption]
Darlington signed him at 17 which was the break he needed just when it looked like the beautiful game was not going to work out for him.
Life at Darlo was hardly one of glamour, with Burn washing his own kit and bringing in packed lunches. Although he did win the 2011 FA Trophy at Wembley on 2011 with a 1-0 win over Mansfield.
All that stopped when he moved to the Premier League with Fulham in 2011, but even then there were question marks as to whether he would progress beyond the reserves.
That was largely due to misconceptions about his ability and his size – which is something he has had to overcome throughout his career.
Many people saw his towering frame as a negative, deeming him to be too big, too slow and too clumsy, when in reality he has always been a competent and composed footballer.
He had loan spells at Yeovil and Birmingham before moving to Wigan in 2016.
Yet when the Latics were relegated to League One a year later, they were prepared to sell Burn for a paltry £500,000 – but there were no takers.
Chris Hughton eventually took him to Brighton 12 months on, for six times more at £3m after he excelled in the third tier, shackling Sergio Aguero in Wigan’s famous FA Cup victory over Manchester City that season.
Former Newcastle boss Hughton exclusively told SunSport: “Most lads, when they move to a club, rent but Dan bought a place and that showed his commitment to the job that he was doing and for his opportunities.
“When I brought him to Brighton, it was a difficult time for him because I had Lewis Dunk and Shane Duffy as my main two so he didn’t play as many games as he would have liked.
Burn, the Premier League’s tallest player, was famously spotted driving a tiny Smart car in 2022
“Am I surprised by his call-up? In some ways, but in some ways, no. His application was always brilliant.”
Yet it was when Graham Potter took over at the Amex that Burn’s career at the top level took flight, making him the tallest left-back the Premier League has ever seen.
He has featured there a lot for Newcastle too, even though centre-back has always been his favoured position.
At the heart of defence is where he has featured most this season and where he seems to have won over Tuchel, so it will be fascinating to see where the German plays him.
His call-up is the latest step in a wild ride for Burn, who was not sure professional football was going to work out as a kid, from the lower leagues, to the Champions League with Newcastle and now England.
Hughton added: “I’m happy for him. What I think Thomas sees in Dan is somebody that is playing in a very, very good team at the top level, playing Champions League games and he’s consistent in his performances.
“He could play in a back three and of course he’s played as left-back. And surprisingly for somebody who’s that size, he’s also quick.
“The fact he’s left-sided as well, I think that helps him. There will be a lot of left-sided central defenders who are right-footed. The fact that he’s left-footed gives a natural balance.”
Burn’s club Newcastle have the richest owners in the world.
And yet the defender drives a relatively modest car – and a tiny one given his huge size.
On New Year’s Eve 2022, Burn was spotted climbing out of a tiny £11k Smart ForTwo, much to supporters’ amusement.
How Howe turned Toon around WITHOUT Saudi billions
EDDIE HOWE has got “the richest club in the world” fighting for honours regularly again despite not being able to blow the big Saudi bucks.
The 47-year-old achieved legendary status at Bournemouth by guiding the then-skint Cherries all the way from League Two into the Premier League promised land.
Now he is potentially on the verge of writing his name into Newcastle’s history books if he can end their 70-year wait for a major trophy.
Howe came mightily close two years ago when he and the Magpies suffered heartbreak in the Carabao Cup final against Manchester United.
Qualifying for the Champions League with a fourth-placed finish softened that blow, and now he is eyeing more than just another Wembley outing as he takes Toon to Arsenal for the first-leg of the Carabao Cup semis.
Of course, it has been nothing like those early days at Bournemouth for Howe since he took charge in November 2021 just weeks after their Saudi takeover.
There was a big outlay that January transfer window in order to assure the club’s Premier League status, but despite reaching the Champions League, PSR rules have delayed their path straight to football’s top table.
Though, despite the purse strings being tightened and even being forced to sell young starlets against his wishes, Howe still has Newcastle punching with the big boys for silverware.
The question is though – how has he done it and how far can he go?
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