The 2026 World Cup is looming, and Newcastle United defender Dan Burn will hope to secure a place in the England squad.
It’s still only October, but it’s difficult to avoid thinking about next summer’s World Cup in the United States.
Players all over the world are attempting to find top form and ensure that they are involved in the game’s showpiece event.
It’s no different at Newcastle United, with some of Eddie Howe’s key players likely to feature at the World Cup.
Nick Woltemade has impressed for Germany, while Dan Burn and Anthony Gordon should be involved for England.
Dan Burn claps towards the Newcastle United fans after a Premier League win over Nottingham Forest.
Photo by Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
James Tarkowski inspired by Newcastle United’s Dan Burn
Burn’s rise to prominence has been remarkable.
Newcastle paid £13million to sign Burn in 2022, having previously released the defender at the age of just 11.
Now 33, Burn is still as important as ever to Newcastle, playing a prominent role as a left-back this season.
Thomas Tuchel called Burn into the England squad for the first time earlier this year, and he now has four caps to his name.
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Burn looks likely to be named in the England squad for the World Cup, and his late rise is inspiring Everton defender James Tarkowski.
Speaking on That Peter Crouch Podcast, Tarkowski has admitted to looking at experienced players who are still playing a role in the England squad.
Jordan Henderson sprang to mind, but fellow defender Burn is the one who is really in Tarkowski’s mind.
Tarkowski praised Burn and Newcastle and would love to join the Magpies defender in the England squad, even if it seems unlikely.
“Yeah, I mean, I think I’ve seen like maybe Henderson’s in there for an experienced role, but obviously then I’ve seen Dan Burn at the minute, he’s playing for Newcastle, a Champions League team that’s doing really well, and he’s quite an experienced player. So I’d say I’m not giving up on it.
“I’ll be doing everything I can to perform to the best of my ability, but it’s been a long time since I’ve been around it, so it’s not like I’m sitting around expecting a call any time soon,” he added.
Tarkowski is looking to use Burn’s rise as motivation to break back into the England squad himself, having only earned two caps back in 2018.
Tuchel will seemingly give the nod to Burn if he wants an experienced defender, though, and playing on the biggest stage of all would cap off quite the rise.
The World Cup may never have really been on Dan Burn’s radar before
When Frank Lampard’s ‘goal’ against Germany wasn’t given at the 2010 World Cup, Burn was just breaking into the Darlington team in League Two.
Four years later, Burn had just been relegated with Fulham before the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
In 2018, Burn joined Brighton and Hove Albion, but he was loaned straight back to Wigan Athletic in the Championship.
The 2022 World Cup came around as Burn was emerging as a key man for Newcastle, but he wasn’t really in contention for England.
For the first time in his career, Burn can start to seriously think about playing at the World Cup – and he deserves enormous praise for pushing himself into this position.