Dan Burn looks set to keep his place in the Newcastle team with Howe looking for stability

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Newcastle boss Eddie Howe looks set to stick with Dan Burn at left back amid calls from fans to recall Matt Targett to the starting eleven.

Newcastle‘s usually solid back four had a nightmare time against Aston Villa on Saturday and Dan Burn came in for the lion’s share of the criticism with many fans calling for Matt Targett to be given his shot on Sunday.

Speaking to the media on Friday morning, Howe strongly hinted that Dan Burn would keep his place in the team for Sunday.

It sounds like Eddie Howe is set to stick with Dan Burn at left back

Targett has missed the bulk of this season a combination of injury and Eddie Howe‘s reluctance to change up a solid defensive unit.

It seems like that reluctance remains as the season draws to a close. When asked if he’d be changing the defence, he told the media (via The Chronicle): “I think it’s a complex answer. I’ll always pick a settled defence if I think it’s the best defence to win the game. I’ve got no problems changing it but I don’t want to make wholesale changes week in, week out and then lose the balance and solidity a settled back four has given you.

“I’ve got no problem with change. We have to believe the change is the right thing. This back four who have played together the majority of the season have been outstanding for us. Does one bad day constitute a change? I don’t know.”

Reading between the lines there it sounds very much like Eddie Howe plans to keep Dan Burn in his starting lineup for Newcastle when Tottenham come to town on Sunday.

Howe went on to praise the Blyth-born colossus, saying: “He’s an incredible player and person. What he gives you sometimes, you can’t measure – similar to Sean [Longstaff]. Similar quality that he brings the team and sometimes it’s not measurable. We really value Dan in whatever position he plays.”

There’s been a feeling amongst fans recently that Burn has looked tired, which wouldn’t be a surprise as he’s played pretty much every game for the Toon and he’s given 100% in every game too. He’s playing out of position and is being asked to get forward more which isn’t something he’s used to, so he’s working extra hard for the team.

Newcastle have two good left backs so whichever way Howe goes, we’re good

It could be a good time to bring in Matt Targett just to freshen things up, especially as he’s more comfortable going forward than Big Dan Burn, but it honestly won’t be the end of the world if Burn keeps his place. He’s not let us down all season.

Granted Saturday wasn’t his best outing in a black and white shirt since his £13million move from Brighton, but nobody played well and as a result everyone has to carry that burden equally, it can’t all be lumped on Burn’s shoulders.

If Burn plays against Tottenham on Sunday I have no doubt he’ll have another good game and we can all put that Aston Villa defeat behind us.