Dan Burn and Declan Rice of England
Dan Burn and Declan Rice of England (Image: Getty Images)
Newcastle United star Dan Burn's journey from Asda trolley pusher to non-league rising star to England international has left his new Three Lions team-mates blown away.
For Burn this week has been about getting used to his new England colleagues after getting every encouragement that he genuinely can be part of the squad that goes to the World Cup next summer. The Blyth lad has not held back with opinions during team meetings and has been well received by everybody around him.
Thomas Tuchel opted for the ex-Darlington defender because he felt he could bring something to the leadership team behind the scenes at the England camp. And it was not a surprise to see both Burn and Harry Kane leading the team out for their pitch inspection before the win over the Albania game last night.
Speaking in the camp Burn, who also played for Yeovil, Birmingham and Fulham before making it big in the Premier League with Brighton and Newcastle. Consequently, and unlike some of his England team-mates, Burn's journey, which also saw him rejected by Newcastle as a kid, meant he did not go through the Academy route.
Newcastle star Burn said: "Because I wasn't at an Academy, I was just playing football with my mates. I'd just play 5-a-side and a bit of Futsal. It wasn't where there was pressure to stay at a club and go through the process. I was just playing for the craic!"
During a round table on the England Youtube channel, Rice interrupts to say: "Your story is crazy! It is so good. Dan's journey is insane, he was still playing football with his mates at 23!"
Burn then added: "I was never signed to an Academy, so they had this thing called the development centre. You weren't signed on but you could train. I got released from Newcastle at 11 and from 11-17 I just played grassroots football. Just played with my mates really.
"Everybody got signed on for YTs and they did an England thing where those who hadn't got picked up played against Scotland or Wales, and from there I got a trial for Darlington. I worked my way through the leagues, Fulham at 18 bought me then released me at 25 and went back to League One with Yeovil so it has been crazy."
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England shirt sale
Get 25% off England shirts ahead of Dan Burn debut
Dan Burn, Tino Livramento and Anthony Gordon have been called up for England duty and the official England Store has cut up to 25% off the latest shirts and full kits ahead of the World Cup qualifiers.
Fans can save up to £25 on the current Home and Away shirts, including Womens and Kids editions. There's also discounts on shirts with 'Gordon 18' printing, with Burn and Livramento shirts expected to hit the shelves soon.