After yet another win and clean sheet in the Champions League, Newcastle United are enjoying an excellent season so far following a slow start.
The Magpies failed to win any of their opening three games in the Premier League, while they also lost their opener against Barcelona in the Champions League. Since then though, Eddie Howe's side have beaten Union Saint-Gilloise, Benfica and Athletic Club without conceding a goal, while they are also in the Carabao Cup quarter-final, although their inconsistencies in the league have continued.
But while most of the attention has been on star midfielders like Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali, or new superstar forward Nick Woltemade, there's another Toon star who deserves all the acclaim instead.
Dan Burn is Newcastle's Most Important Player
Dan Burn
Dan Burn
While Howe has looked to rotate his squad at different times this season, only one outfield player at the club has played every minute of every Premier League game so far, and that's Dan Burn.
The giant defender, who has been described as 'phenomenal', has also started every Champions League game so far this season, missing just 15 minutes of action, while he also played in one of the club's Carabao Cup games this season, proving that the manager relies on him heavily. In addition to that, it's important to note that he is versatile.
After starting the season at centre-back alongside Fabian Schar, Burn has now been shifted to left-back to accommodate for the injuries to Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento. Yet his performance levels haven't dropped, and he continues to be a huge part of the way the team plays.
Burn's headed goal against Athletic Club was one of the best goals of the season so far, showing his quality, and it wasn't the first time we've seen him deliver at the highest level either. His goal in the Carabao Cup final put the team on their way to victory, and fans now hold him in the highest echelon.
As a boyhood fan of the club, it's no surprise that he completely embodies what it means to play for Newcastle United and always has the fans in his heart.
His performances have seen him earn plaudits nationally and also a regular place in Thomas Tuchel's England squad ahead of the World Cup next summer, something which has been well overdue and well deserved.
The club are able to get results without the likes of Tonali, Guimaraes, Woltemade and Anthony Gordon, but without Burn there is always likely to be a big drop off, and he is by far the club's most important player now.