Dan Burn lifts lid on Newcastle moment that was talk of England camp and late World Cup candidate
The 6ft 7in centre-back knows it is now or never for the World Cup but indicated he may not be alone on that trans-Atlantic flight
(Image: Andrew Fosker/REX/Shutterstock)
From Blyth to Brent with a few quirky stop-offs in between, it’s safe to say that Dan Burn’s road to the brink of the World Cup has been an unusual one.
The 6ft 7in centre-back turned out for Blyth Spartans, Darlington, Wigan, Yeovil and Brighton to name a few before winning his first England cap at the age of 33. But he finds himself in the mind of Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel on merit ahead of the finals and as the proud owner of four England caps, he would be rubbing shoulders with some of the biggest stars in the game next summer at the greatest show on earth.
The former Asda trolley collector’s journey is richly deserved, but after scoring a historic and crucial header at Wembley in the Carabao Cup final last March that rocked Liverpool, the freeman of Northumberland is more than capable of replicating that on the big stage in the US, Canada and Mexico next summer.
Rewind to a busy corridor in the bowels of Wembley’s mixed zone and Burn has been an unused substitute against Wales. It is easy for England players to opt against stopping to do interviews if they choose to do so, but Burn presents himself as a player who never has and never will forget his roots.
The subject of playing at the World Cup and emulating the likes of Ashington’s famous brothers Bobby and Jack Charlton seems well within grasp for Burn. He’s hungry to do it, of course, and a region will burst with pride if Burn is stood bellowing out the national anthem while thousands back in the North-East watch from home next summer.
Burn will get the chance to add to his England caps against Serbia and Albania next month in two dead rubbers with Tuchel’s side already in next summer’s tournament. And he is prepared to savour every single moment.
He is a Geordie boy living the dream, and so far, Wembley has been kind to him in 2025 after THAT goal against Liverpool on the way to cup glory before his England debut against Albania in March. His header in the League Cup showpiece even cropped up as a subject as Burn warmed up with Harry Kane and Jordan Henderson last month.
(Image: Getty Images)
Burn told Chronicle Live: “Every game at Wembley is special for me. A few of the lads asked me about the Carabao Cup final and what it was like to score in it. While we were warming up at Wembley, it cropped up. The atmosphere was certainly very different that day.
“But Wembley is special for me and I’ll never take it for granted. It is a great honour for me to be given that chance to represent my country so late in my career. I never thought I’d get the chance to do it if I’m honest.
“So every Wembley trip I savour it. Pulling on the England shirt is such a proud moment.”
Burn struck another chord with fans last summer when he reflected on the other Carabao Cup final goalscorer for Newcastle that day, Alexander Isak. As the Sweden star went on strike Burn said in August: “Nothing is achieved alone.”
It was quickly drawn up as a banner on the Gallowgate End and held up by fans against Liverpool. That bond with Newcastle fans will never die for local lad and former season ticket holder Burn who has watched on as some Toon fans take a bus or train just to see him play for his country.
Away to Latvia, Geordies even waved a Blyth flag reading: “You’ll never ever beat Dan Burn!” Burn loves the passion shown by those who can now claim to have seen him play for club and country, but admits he’d love to have the ultimate lads tour with three or four of his Newcastle team-mates next summer.
Burn said: “To see Newcastle fans come down for England games just to see you is special. Now that we are doing better as a club at Newcastle there are more and more lads getting picked.
“Tino Livramento would have been in the last squad without his injury and Lewis Hall is in and around it too ahead of the World Cup.
“There are other lads in and around it too, Jacob Murphy was really close last season and could do it again and of course Anthony Gordon. I think it is good for Newcastle as a club to be getting players in.”
For now though it is every man for himself as England stars look to stay fit and ensure they are on that plane that heads across the Atlantic. The Blyth battler said: “I’ve said before I’ll play anywhere, even in goal. I waited so long to be an England player and I will try to make the most of it. It is about the team. I will do whatever I am asked to do.
“The last two squads we have got what we needed. We are seeing the identity that the manager has brought in. Everyone in the England squad is fighting for each other, and the quality has been really good.
“Against Wales we were 3-0 up and took our foot of the gas a little bit but we look forward to the qualifiers now.”
For Burn the World Cup could be his last crack at a major tournament and he knows it, but he is determined to snatch his big chance. He admitted: “It’s not like I’m 18 or 19 and there could be two or three more chances. I want to be there but either I play at this one or I won’t make a World Cup.”
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