Former Newcastle and England Teammates Share Insights on Dan Burn’s Challenging Debut Marked by a 5-0 Loss

DAN BURN is still astonished after celebrating his unexpected England selection by scoring and lifting the Carabao Cup at Wembley.

The lifelong supporter of Newcastle is living the dream of a football fairytale, which is a far cry from the modest origins of his career.

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Burn made his EFL debut at 17 when he substituted in the 19th minute on December 12, 2009, for Darlington, who were at the bottom of League Two, in a 5-0 loss to Torquay United.

That day, he took the place of Mark Bower, who now manages seventh-tier Guiseley.

The 45-year-old reminisced to SunSport: “I remember him coming on for me, but I didn’t realize it was his debut. I had an ankle injury that needed surgery afterward.

“He was a big lad even back then, but now he has filled out even more and has done remarkably well.”

“I remember it was December, and we had a long journey. We arrived quite late the night before on Friday. That was probably his first experience of an overnight stay.

“He got his chance, but it was a tough introduction. We were struggling badly, unable to score goals while conceding plenty.

“To then lose 5-0. Such experiences develop character. You learn from them, and he’s learned a lot and excelled.”

Former winger Nathan Mulligan, now a coach with Northern Premier League playoff contenders Stockton Town, also sat on the bench next to Burn at Plainmoor.

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The 38-year-old reflected: “It was a very tough time for us. I believe we’d lost four matches consecutively.

“I wasn’t particularly anxious when Dan came on. Even as a scholar, he’d been around the first team, and given his size, we had no worries about him fitting in physically. He was slim but tall, just like he is now.

Thomas Tuchel shares a hug with Dan Burn and Lewis-Skelly as England stars arrive at St George’s Park for the double-header

“He was a quiet lad. Very nice, and kept a low profile.”

Bower, who was part of the Bradford squad that reached the Premier League in 1999, noted that it wasn’t Burn’s skills that first caught attention after he was introduced to the first team as a scholar.

He remarked, “He was someone who kept to himself, doing his job and trying to forge a career in football. He was quite reserved.

“His size was remarkable for someone so young. He’s a big figure now and has added muscle, yet back then he was somewhat lithe. Very tall and perhaps a bit awkward, but he had an excellent left foot and was formidable in the air.”

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“When young players possess those kinds of attributes, you sense they have a chance; however, back then, I doubt anyone anticipated him being involved in major cup finals, competing in the Premier League, and potentially representing England.”

Burn made three additional appearances that season, suffering defeats in all, as Darlington faced relegation from the EFL.

After gaining more experience in the National League, his dreams appeared to be coming true when Premier League team Fulham signed him.

Mulligan reflected: “It was unexpected but illustrates that you never know who might be taken notice of.

“Dan serves as a perfect example for anyone, demonstrating that you must give your all every time you step onto the pitch.

“We’ve seen it happen before; someone could spot your talent at any moment, and a single person’s opinion can change everything.”

Burn’s career trajectory has taken him through Yeovil, Birmingham, Wigan, and Brighton before he fulfilled his ultimate aspiration by signing with Newcastle three years ago.

He would have been satisfied with simply that, never mind playing a crucial part in ending their 70-year drought for domestic silverware.

Now, Burn has the opportunity to cap off an incredible week by earning his first England cap on Friday.

His former teammates admit they never imagined this day would happen.

Mulligan stated: “No, I never would have predicted that back then. But it’s a fantastic accolade for him. He’s the kind of player who consistently scores an eight out of ten and rarely has a poor performance, and he’s finally getting his chance with England due to injuries.

“But this is just the start. He can continue this momentum. If he secures that first cap, he could be a mainstay in the squad for a long time.

“With another year or so of hard work, he could even find himself at the World Cup. What an extraordinary journey it would be to go from the depths of League Two with Darlo to competing at a World Cup.”

Burn’s transformation is the second football fairytale Bower has witnessed firsthand.

He added: “Just a year after I played with Dan Burn at Darlington, I joined Halifax and played alongside Jamie Vardy. I’ve seen up close how players can rise from the lowest points in their careers. It’s inspiring for young players facing challenges early on.

“Honestly, I don’t think many expected him to reach such heights, and when you hear him on television, you can tell he’s a bit astonished himself.

“Fair play to him. He has capitalized on his talents and become an exceptional player. His size may lead some to underestimate his skill.”