Dan Burn has transitioned from believing he would never represent England to envisioning participation in the World Cup, all within a remarkable week that included his first call-up and a pivotal role in Newcastle’s Carabao Cup victory. At 32 years old, Burn has taken an unconventional path to reach his childhood club and the international stage, having experienced relegation from League Two with Darlington at the outset of a career marked by numerous challenges.

Burn ascended through the leagues and gained recognition from the new England manager, Thomas Tuchel, who selected the Blyth-born defender for the World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia.

This development ensures an immediate return to Wembley for the celebrated figure of Newcastle, who played a crucial role in ending a 70-year drought for a major domestic trophy by scoring the opening goal in Sunday’s 2-1 Carabao Cup final against Liverpool.

“I’ve definitely had worse weeks,” Burn remarked with a grin. “It all began when the manager (Tuchel) FaceTimed me on Tuesday, mentioning that they were considering calling me up and that he would inform me by Thursday.

“By around six o’clock on Thursday evening, I hadn’t received any updates, so I told my wife, ‘nothing is going to happen.’ Then, at 10 PM, I received a text asking, ‘are you still awake?’ I replied, ‘yes’ immediately.

“He jokingly said I was quite unprofessional for not being in bed by 10 o’clock!” Burn conveyed to Tuchel that he could contribute significantly both on and off the pitch, arriving at St George’s Park with steadfast confidence.

“I’m not just here to be a cheerleader and support the team,” he stated. “I aspire to play. I believe I possess the capability to compete at the international level, and I have maintained this belief for quite some time.”

Opportunities in the past have been scarce, leading Burn to understandably believe that his chance with the England national team had passed, especially with his 33rd birthday approaching in two months.

“There was some discussion regarding the 2022 World Cup while I was playing as a left-back,” he remarked. “I thought there might be a possibility there. However, I felt that my lack of international experience worked against me, and yet, one cannot gain that experience without being selected, which made the situation less than ideal.

“At 32, I genuinely believed that my opportunity had likely slipped away, but with the arrival of a new manager, there was always a sense of ‘you never know’.” Burn is eager to seize this chance, even humorously suggesting he would play right wing if necessary, as the prospect of next summer’s World Cup unexpectedly emerged.

“I would say that last Monday, this was not even on my radar, but now it has become my primary goal,” he stated. “I recognize that there will be numerous steps I need to take to reach that point.

“Being part of the initial training camp is crucial, but I don’t want to be here without purpose. I aim to improve and make the most of my opportunities.”

This enthusiasm led him to set aside celebrations for the Carabao Cup in order to focus on his England opportunity. “It felt unusual,” he noted.

“Once I left the stadium, my attention completely shifted to this. I had my family and children with me, and we ended up taking the bus back to the hotel around midnight, which was getting a bit lively, but I was just ready to sleep!

“There will be time for celebration. I know the club has announced a parade on Saturday when we return, and I believe that will be when I celebrate.

“However, at this moment, I am aware that I have waited a long time for this opportunity, and I did not want to jeopardize it.”

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