Local boy Dan Burn the hero as Newcastle United finally deliver a trophy
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Newcastle United's Dan Burn celebrating with the trophy after winning the League Cup at Wembley on March 16.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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LONDON – For all the millions of pounds Newcastle United have invested in an array of talent from around the globe since a Saudi Arabia-backed takeover in 2021, it was Dan Burn, born down the road in Blyth, who proved the hero to end decades of hurt on March 16.
Brazilian captain Bruno Guimaraes was inspirational in the 2-1 League Cup final win over Liverpool
Italian Sandro Tonali oozed class and Sweden’s Alexander Isak scored his 23rd goal of a superb season that will afford him cult status alongside the club’s former iconic forwards.
But when centre-back Burn met a corner with a thumping header to put Newcastle in front on the stroke of half-time, that was the defining moment of the final that delivered Newcastle’s first piece of silverware since the old Fairs Cup in 1969. The 1955 FA Cup was the club’s last domestic success.
Burn, a Newcastle youth product but whose career needed stops at Darlington, Fulham, Yeovil Town, Birmingham City, Wigan Athletic and Brighton & Hove Albion before returning to the relegation-threatened Magpies in 2022, was described by manager Eddie Howe as colossal on March 16 after a fairy-tale week.
“I’ve had worse weeks. I don’t want to go to sleep because I feel like I’m dreaming and it’s all going to be a lie,” said Burn, who was given his first England call-up on March 14 and scored his first goal of the season two days later.
“I don’t get many (goals), so I saved it for a big occasion.”
There will not be much time to celebrate though, with Burn, 32, saying: “I’ll be first there tomorrow at 8 o’clock,” in reference to him joining up with new England manager Thomas Tuchel’s camp.
Howe was brought in soon after Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund led a takeover of the club
Howe led Newcastle into last season’s Champions League but defeat in the 2023 League Cup final by Manchester United meant the wait for domestic silverware had stretched to 70 years.
A 10th successive Wembley defeat would have been a crushing blow for Newcastle and their fabled Toon Army, but Howe’s side comprehensively outplayed a feted Liverpool team who are running away with the Premier League.
“It’s a great moment, and that’s what it’s all about. You have so many difficult days in football, and this club’s had its fair share over the years,” Howe, who was drenched in beer by his celebrating players, told reporters.
“I’m just so pleased they (the fans) have this trophy to end the long wait and, hopefully, we can get some more in the future.
“Today we won it in the best way; we played a brilliant opponent, they’ve been the best team in the Premier League all season by a long way and, for me, we were the better team.”
On hometown hero Burn scoring Newcastle’s first Wembley goal for 25 years, Howe added: “What a week, what a few days for him. I thought his performance today, I thought he was colossal for us at the back. I thought it was an incredible header.
“And it’s so fitting that it’s him that scored that goal after a long wait for a goal at Wembley.”
For a composed, erudite figure like Howe to arrive at his post-match press conference still soaked and reeking of alcohol underlined just how much Newcastle were letting themselves go after one of the greatest days in the history of a proud but so often underachieving club.
“If you can smell a strange smell, that’s me. I was drenched in alcohol by Joelinton and some of the others! There has to be a celebration. I will certainly be encouraging it. That’s not usual for me,” Howe said.
“I urge everyone to enjoy it. We’ve had some people who have worked for this club for a long time and it’s great to see them so happy. That is what it’s all about, you have so many difficult days in football and this club has had its share.” REUTERS, AFP
