Eddie Howe believes Dan Burn was unlucky not to make England’s World Cup squad and is adamant his 6ft 6in defender should not abandon hope of a call from Gareth Southgate.
Burn has excelled at centre-half and, more recently, left-back since joining Howe’s Newcastle from Brighton for £13m last January. After proving instrumental in helping the team avoid relegation last season, the 30-year-old has been integral to their rise. Last Tuesday Burn, who grew up in Northumberland idolising Alan Shearer, scored his first goal for Newcastle as they beat Leicester 2-0 in the Carabao Cup quarter-final.
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Howe said of an England call-up: “Dan probably is silently very motivated by that. But I don’t think it’s something he’d necessarily communicate to me or his teammates. I think he’s very much of the mindset that his performances speak for themselves and that he would hope they would be enough to be in contention.
“For me, without putting too much pressure on Gareth, he was very unlucky not to go to the World Cup. I think he would have been very close. He just missed out I think and he’s carried that form on since. Credit to Dan, he’s maintained the same level since the World Cup ended and that dream faded for him.
“But at 30 there’s still time for him. I think his adaptability and versatility is potentially a real avenue, potentially a real way into the England squad.”
The irony is that Burn, rejected by Newcastle as an 11-year-old but watched several times in person by Southgate during the autumn, was not Howe’s first- or even second-choice defensive signing this time last year. Not that Newcastle’s manager harbours the remotest shred of regret about acquiring his burgeoning talent and mature off-field influence.
“I think Dan has improved,” said Howe. “He’s done a very, very good job in any position I’ve asked him to play. He’s embraced everything this club stands for. He’s got a winning mindset. He’s not here just to play for Newcastle, he wants to achieve things here. It’s turned out to be a very good transfer for us.
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“Dan’s very humble, he’s very easy to manage. He’s very low maintenance. And he’s a top player as well.”
