Newcastle United defender Dan Burn has been speaking ahead of Sunday’s Tyne-Wear Derby against Sunderland.
The Black Cats travel to St. James’ Park for the first time in a decade this weekend, and will be hoping for a repeat of the 1-0 victory they recorded against their bitter rivals at the Stadium of Light back in December.
For his part, Burn suffered a particularly difficult afternoon on Wearside. Alongside a stinging defeat, the boyhood Newcastle fan also sustained a broken rib and a punctured lung during a collision with Nordi Mukiele, and was subsequently substituted shortly before half-time. In a post-match press conference, Toon boss Eddie Howe revealed that the England international had been taken to hospital after complaining that he was struggling to breathe.
But as attention now turns to the reverse fixture on Tyneside, Burn has emphasised just how eager he is to line up against Sunderland again, while also conceding that he is pleased to have Newcastle’s biggest foe back in the top flight.
What has Newcastle United defender Dan Burn said about Sunderland?
Speaking in an interview with Sky Sports, the 33-year-old said: “I waited that long for a league derby, to not even make half-time, it was disappointing. I think for us as a team as a whole it was disappointing. We were prepared for it and well up for it and we just didn't seem to perform on the day, so I feel like that Sunderland game [at St. James’ Park] has been marked.
“I've been very lucky that I've managed to tick off a lot of things I wanted to do at Newcastle, and I feel like a home league game against Sunderland is one of the final few maybe that I'll be able to do, so we're looking forward to it. Me and my brother used to share a season ticket and it was like Sunderland and the Big Six were the teams in a separate hat and you were desperate to bring Sunderland out. I'm happy that they're back in the league because I feel like they’ve been missing the last few years.
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“I've missed them [derby fixtures]. I've missed it and I'm genuinely happy when Sunderland came up because a whole generation's missed out on the derbies and how excited people get for the games and the build-up to those games. And Middlesbrough as well - I'd be more than happy for Middlesbrough to come up again just for the North East in general as a footballer. I want them to do well, but not too well. I don't want them to do better than us.”
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