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Newcastle Defender Dan Burn's England Desire Still Alive, Says Eddie Howe
Eddie Howe reveals that Dan Burn has not given up on his dream of playing for England after narrowly missing out on the World Cup.
The Newcastle manager, having a close relationship with Gareth Southgate, believes Burn was very close to making the squad for Qatar.
Burn, 30, has been outstanding for his hometown club in the year since joining from Brighton for £11 million and scored his first goal during Tuesday’s 2-0 Carabao Cup quarter-final win against Leicester.
Talk of an England call-up has quietened amid the return to Premier League action, but Howe insists his defender must stay in the reckoning.
‘Dan is probably silently very motivated by England,’ Howe said. ‘I don't think it's something he would talk necessarily to me or to his teammates, maybe when pushed in the media possibly.
‘But I think he is very much of the mentality that his performances speak for themselves, and that he would hope they would be enough to be in contention.
‘For me, he was very unlucky not to go to the World Cup. I’m not putting pressure on Gareth, but I would think he would have been very close. He just missed out, I think, and he's carried that form on.
‘The World Cup has ended and that dream faded, but there is still time for him and his adaptability and versatility are probably a real avenue in with England.’
Burn has emerged as a fan favorite at St James’ Park, a position cemented when he danced in the dressing room on live TV after the midweek win. He faces his former club Fulham on Sunday, and Howe thinks he is still improving.
‘If you're going to sign a player of Dan’s age and of that profile, you hope it goes as his story has – and I think he has improved,’ said the head coach. ‘He's done a pretty good job in whatever position I've asked him to play.
‘He's embraced everything that the club stands for and he's got a winning mindset. He's not here just to play for Newcastle; he wants to achieve, so it's turned out to be a very good move for us.
‘He's very humble and very low maintenance. He's a top player as well, so it's a great mix from a manager's perspective, certainly.’