Eddie Howe has no choice but to play Dan Burn at left-back for Newcastle United right now.
The 33-year-old has been playing the best football of his Newcastle United career at centre-back, but circumstances have resulted in a sudden change.
With Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall injured, the Magpies are suddenly short of left-back options. That has resulted in Dan Burn shifting over, having played there for the entirety of the 2022/23 season.
Burn has looked comfortable since changing position, and Eddie Howe has admitted he has complete confidence in the defender’s ability at left-back.
Dan Burn playing for Newcastle United against Nottingham Forest in the Premier League.
Photo by Jon Hobley/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Eddie Howe has confidence in Dan Burn playing left-back
Ahead of Newcastle’s game against Brighton, Howe has spoken to the media.
He was asked about Burn moving from centre-back to left-back, with the Newcastle United manager admitting that the local lad will do ‘anything for the team’.
“I think Dan will do anything for the team,” he said.
“He’s always had that mentality. Whatever the team needs, Dan will do his best to deliver that.
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“I think he’s done really well because it’s not easy. It is a big change of position. Mainly physically, the demands at centre-half, as I know only too well when I played at fullback, that was a big shift. You have to go through the gears and do a lot more running. I think he’s got the physical capabilities to do it.
“Of course there is a slight adjustment to the training and the outputs that you give. But a really good start for him back in that position and the team is functioning well with him there.”
Eddie Howe criticised Dan Burn during pre-season
Whether it has been at centre-back or left-back, Burn has been outstanding this season.
The England international has continued his form from the previous campaign, but it has not all been plain sailing for the 6ft 7in defender.
That is according to the Athletic’s George Caulkin, who recently stated on Pod On The Tyne that Howe had words with Burn at the start of pre-season amid concerns over his level of performance.
“Dan Burn was given some harsh words at the beginning of the summer in pre-season by Howe, who said ‘you need to knuckle down in pre-season, the way you’ve started pre-season isn’t great’,” he said.
“So he did and he responded. Burn has been absolutely phenomenal.”
Howe wanted more from Burn, and he got it. At the start of the season, he was keeping Sven Botman out of the starting XI. While everyone knew what Botman was capable of, there was simply no reason to drop Burn.
Now Newcastle have inadvertently found a way of getting both players into the starting XI, with Livramento and Hall’s absence forcing Burn to change position.
As Howe said during his press conference, Burn really will do whatever is required to help the team. He would even play in goal if you asked him. That is the type of character he is, and it is why he is a vital leader within the Newcastle United squad.