India, March 18 -- 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. The 32-year-old 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 Newcastle player, 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 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 want 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 had been scarce in the past, leading Burn to worry that his chance with England had passed, especially with his 33rd birthday approaching in two months.

He reminisced, "During my time as a left-back, there were discussions regarding the 2022 World Cup. I believed there might have been a chance for me, but I recognized it would be difficult since I had never played in any international matches."

"At the age of 32, I genuinely thought my opportunity had passed. However, with the arrival of a new manager, there was always that lingering thought of 'you never know.'" Burn is eager to seize this chance, humorously stating that he would even play right wing if necessary, as the prospect of participating in next summer's World Cup has unexpectedly emerged.

"Last Monday, I certainly did not consider it a possibility, but now it has become my primary goal," he expressed. "I understand there will be numerous steps I need to take to reach that point."

"Being part of the initial training camp is crucial, but I want my presence to serve a purpose. I aim to improve and make the most of my opportunities."

His enthusiasm led him to set aside celebrations for the Carabao Cup in order to focus on his chance with England. "It felt unusual," he noted.

"Once I left the stadium, my attention completely shifted to this. My family and children were with me, and we took 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 am aware that the club has announced a parade on Saturday when we return, and I believe that will be the appropriate time to celebrate."

"However, I recognized that I had waited a long time for this opportunity, and I did not want to jeopardize it." 

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