England have shown the 'quality on the pitch' required to win the World Cup for the first time in 60 years - according to the proudest of all Scots!
Dan Burn played a key role in England's World Cup victory over Mexico after coming off the benchplaceholder image
Dan Burn played a key role in England's World Cup victory over Mexico after coming off the bench
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He also played for the national team alongside his brother Steven - another fellow ex-Latics defender - which was the first time siblings had represented Scotland for almost a century.
Nevertheless, he has no qualms whatsoever about voicing his opinion that Thomas Tuchel's Class of '26 could go all the way this summer.
"I think so," he said. "The quality they have on the pitch is right up there with the best teams.
"And I think the manager is a top manager. He's a manager who just understands big games...tactically very good, but also emotionally very good.
"He knows how to get the best out of world-class players, and for England to have someone like him to make the big decisions in the big moments to get them over the line is massive.
"I think they'll definitely be one of the teams in the last four...and massively competing to win the thing."
Caldwell has added incentive to want England to do well, with Dan Burn - who kickstarted his career after being signed for Latics by Caldwell in the summer of 2016 - a hiuge part of the most recent victory over Mexico.
Not that the Latics boss is seeking any credit for how Burn turned his fortunes round while with Latics.
"I wouldn't say I played a part in that," said Caldwell. "He always had the potential.
"And that's what we're looking for this summer...players that, for whatever reason, haven't quite achieving what they want to achieve, but we see something in them, that will help them to develop.
"They are out there, you see that all the time...Dan is a great example of that.
"Hopefully this year we can pick up a few Dan Burns along the way...players that for whatever reason aren't achieving what their talent allows them to, and we can help to bring out the best in them."
Caldwell also well remembers Burn's difficult first few weeks at Wigan, which led to then owner Dave Whelan wanting to know who had signed the player who'd just been freed by Fulham.
"Graham (Barrow) got a call one night from the owner... 'Who's signed that Dan Burn?'" laughed Caldwell, who was sacked early in the season following a slow start. "Graham stuck up for me, but it only lasted so long…!
"When Dan arrived at Wigan, you could see he was a young player who just needed to find his way and find that confidence.
"That probably came after I left the club (in October 2016), but definitely a brilliant character, and somebody you could see the potential in.
"It's the same reason we've just signed Max Power...not only do you need players who can perform themselves on the field, but also have the standards to drive others and to push others.
"For someone like Thomas Tuchel to see something like that in Dan, and want to take him to a World Cup...that's music to my ears, because we believe the same thing."
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