LEICESTER, ENGLAND - APRIL 07: Harvey Barnes of Newcastle United celebrates scoring his team's third goal with teammate Dan Burn during the Premier League match between Leicester City FC and Newcastle United FC at The King Power Stadium on April 07, 2025 in Leicester, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
Newcastle United defender Dan Burn admits that he had to pile on some pounds to switch to being a centre-back this season.
The Blyth lad has had a simply magnificent season in the heart of defence after being fielded at left-back the previous campaign. Not only has Burn etched himself into Geordie folklore with his header at the Carabao Cup final, the 6ft 7in battler has been the bedrock at the back for the black and whites as they look to qualify for the Champions League.
Burn though admitted, in an interview with Sky Sports: "This season, because I’ve changed left-back to centre-back, I’ve made a real effort to try and put weight on.
"I’ve probably put five kilos of weight on just because I felt as if for the position I play, I want to be as dominant as possible, which feels like a strength of mine now. I couldn’t carry this weight if I was playing full-back!"
Former Brighton & Hove Albion and Birmingham City star Burn, 33, has had what Eddie Howe describes as the "dream season" with the big defender a candidate for player of the year. Howe said: "Dan’s season will be up there, if you had written a dream season, it would have been very close to this for him.
"The goal in the cup final, that was the best header I have ever seen him deliver, then very quickly he had the England call up and debut. Very special moments for him and fully deserved."