Dan Burn acknowledges he’s faced ‘tougher weeks’ while aiming for a World Cup place with England.

Dan Burn of Newcastle United recognises that his career has not followed a ‘straight line’, yet at the age of 32, everything seems to be aligning perfectly for the tall defender, who could finally earn his first England cap on Friday.

Just five days prior, he received a call from the new England manager, Thomas Tuchel, who confirmed that he was selected for the squad ahead of the World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia at Wembley.

On Sunday, Burn’s stunning header—his inaugural goal of the season—was instrumental in securing Newcastle’s first domestic trophy in 70 years, a thrilling 2-1 League Cup final victory over Liverpool.

As a result, he became the talk of the town on Tuesday at England’s St George’s Park training facility.

“I’ve had worse weeks,” Burn shared with reporters. “When it hit 6 o’clock Thursday evening and I hadn’t heard anything, I told my wife, ‘I don’t think anything is going to happen.’ Then I received a text asking, ‘Are you still awake?’“

“(Tuchel) mentioned he had been calling everyone who hadn’t made the squad, so I didn’t believe I was in. But then he said he wanted to finish the day positively and that he wanted me in the squad.”

Burn’s selection adds another chapter to the inspiring story of a player forged in tough circumstances.

Born in Blyth, a stone’s throw from Newcastle, Burn’s football journey began at Blyth Spartans before a move to Darlington. After five years at Fulham—where he also had loan stints at Yeovil Town and Birmingham City—he was released in 2016.

Following a tenure at Wigan Athletic, his adaptability caught the eye of Brighton & Hove Albion. After establishing himself as a Premier League defender, his heart club, Newcastle, came calling in January 2022, securing his services for £13 million ($16.86 million) to bring him ‘home’.

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Burn’s pivotal contribution to Newcastle’s League Cup conquest has etched his name in the club’s rich history, but he now aims even higher—setting his sights on next year’s World Cup finals.

“I’m not just coming in as a cheerleader; I want to play,” Burn asserted to the media. “I aim to make a significant impression and to secure my spot for the next camp. Every young player’s dream is to play in a World Cup.

“Having the chance to take part is special. After being overlooked in numerous international breaks, I had accepted that my time might have passed. Thankfully, the new manager has given me this opportunity.”

The six-foot-six Burn has been deployed in various defensive roles over his career, including left back, and even mentioned he would take up the right wing position if it meant getting on the pitch.

However, it’s as a robust centre-back where he has truly made his presence felt, a fact that some of his new England teammates reminded him of on Monday.

“I remember absolutely crunching Jared (Bowen) when he was at West Ham, and I went straight over to apologise,” Burn recounted, emphasising how his diverse journey has fostered resilience in him.

“I know my strengths, and the only opinion that counts to me is that of (Newcastle boss) Eddie Howe and the managers,” he stated.

“I’ve faced doubt throughout my career. I doubt that many who watched me at Darlington would have predicted I’d be here doing a press conference for England.

“But I genuinely feel I deserve to be here.”