Dan Burn Discusses His First Senior England Call-Up And Commitment To Contribute

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Dan Burn expressed his determination to make an impact following his first senior England call-up for the World Cup qualifiers. He was included in Thomas Tuchel's squad for matches against Albania and Latvia, having recently contributed to Newcastle United's EFL Cup victory. Burn scored the opening goal in their 2-1 win over Liverpool at Wembley, becoming the third-oldest Englishman to score in an EFL Cup final.

Burn has been a key player for Newcastle this season, helping them compete for Champions League qualification while ending a 70-year wait for a major trophy. In the Premier League, he leads in aerial duels won with 101 and has kept nine clean sheets across 27 games. Despite competition from other central defenders like Marc Guehi and Levi Colwill, Burn is determined to play.

Burn acknowledged that he wasn't just there to be a cheerleader but wanted to contribute on the field. "He [Thomas Tuchel] said I've been playing well for a long time. I'm not just coming in to be a cheerleader - I want to play," Burn stated. His inclusion in the squad marks a fresh start under Tuchel's management.

Previously, there was speculation about Burn's potential involvement with England during the 2022 World Cup due to his impressive performances at left-back for Brighton and Newcastle. However, former manager Gareth Southgate chose Luke Shaw and Kieran Trippier instead, as England reached the quarter-finals before being eliminated by France.

At 32 years old, Burn finally received his first international call-up but felt overlooked during Southgate's tenure. "I've got a good few years in me, no retirement yet! I think I have been overlooked," he remarked. He appreciated Southgate's approach of treating the national team like a club but felt it worked against him.

Burn revealed that his lack of international experience previously hindered his chances of selection. "I never played any international football, which worked against me," he admitted. Despite thinking his opportunity had passed at 32, he remained hopeful when Tuchel took over as manager.

A Fresh Start Under Tuchel

Among Tuchel's first squad selections, only Jordan Henderson and Kyle Walker are older than Burn. This new chapter offers him a chance to prove himself on the international stage. "Luckily, the new manager has taken a chance on me and I want to grasp the opportunity," Burn said.

The defender is eager to seize this opportunity after feeling that previous chances had slipped away due to his age and lack of caps. With renewed hope under Tuchel’s leadership, Burn aims to make his mark with England’s national team.