Dan Burn admits he is now playing the best football of his career for Newcastle

Add as preferred source on Google

2022 has been the best year of Dan Burn‘s career.

The defender started the year with Brighton, but he is now shining for his boyhood club Newcastle United.

Burn signed for the Magpies in January, costing £13million. He was a needs must addition, with Eddie Howe desperate to sign a centre-back.

Newcastle had seen moves for Sven Botman and Diego Carlos collapse. The club then decided to play it safe and bring in Premier League experience. That led to a move for Burn, who has barely put a foot wrong since moving to St James’ Park.

The 30-year-old is achieving his childhood dream, and is certainly making up for lost time on Tyneside.

Whether he’s at centre-back or left-back, Burn is always reliable. He plays with his heart on his sleeve, and is now a key leader behind the scenes.

It is a joy to watch Burn play for Newcastle, and many believe his form should have been rewarded with a place in the England squad.

That didn’t happen, and now he has addressed his World Cup snub.

Burn admits World Cup call would have been ‘class’

Burn has been speaking to the Athletic, and was asked about not being selected for the World Cup.

“I’m watching England (and) thinking how class it would be to have been there (in the squad).

“It was nice to have been spoken about, knowing I’m playing the best football of my career and how far away I’ve been in the past, but any disappointment is mainly because I’m 30, so I’ll be 34 at the next World Cup and it’s not going to happen then. So it’s like the one bit of football I’ll never get to do.

“But I was buzzing for the Newcastle lads who were selected.”

All Burn can do is focus on his Newcastle career

On form, Burn should be at the World Cup right now. But sadly it wasn’t meant to be, and he seems to have accepted the fact that he will never represent his country.

While that dream may never be realised, he can achieve something just as special in a black and white shirt.

Burn’s performances have contributed to Newcastle being third in the Premier League, and Howe’s side look like genuine contenders for Europe.

That is added motivation for Burn to continue playing the best football of his career. It could lead to him playing for his local club in a European competition.

That would be a dream that Burn probably never thought was possible 12 months ago.