Dan Burn is not included in the England squad merely to serve as a supporter, as the Newcastle player aims to earn his first cap under Thomas Tuchel.

Dan Burn has expressed his surprise and delight at receiving his first call-up to the England national squad at the age of 32, a moment he thought had long passed him by. The Newcastle defender has joined Thomas Tuchel’s squad ahead of their World Cup qualifier against Albania this Friday at Wembley.

The match is part of Group K in the European qualifiers, with England set to face Latvia shortly after. Burn has been a standout performer for Newcastle this season, helping the club to sixth place in the Premier League, just two points shy of a Champions League spot. Despite his impressive form, this is not the first time he has excelled, and he had previously resigned himself to the belief that an England call-up was out of reach.

With a change in management since January, Burn has managed to catch Tuchel’s eye, particularly following Newcastle’s recent victory over Liverpool. Reflecting on the moment he received the news, Burn shared, “I’ve definitely had worse weeks. Last week started off when the manager FaceTimed us on Tuesday, said he was considering calling us up and would let us know on Thursday.”

He continued, “By 6pm Thursday night I hadn’t heard anything, then I got a text saying ‘are you still awake’ at 10pm. He FaceTimed and brought us the good news; I did struggle to sleep. First of all, he said I was very unprofessional not being in bed by 10pm, so I apologised for that.”

Tuchel’s decision to call up a player in his thirties is a bold one, but Burn’s current form certainly justifies the choice. He has been a key figure in Newcastle’s success this season, and he is eager to contribute to the national team. “Tuchel wanted me to be in the squad to do what he felt my strengths are. I thought I could offer just as much off the pitch as on. I feel I’m a leader off and on the pitch, and just sit into that role,” Burn explained.

He acknowledged the challenge of integrating with a squad full of international talent but is determined to make his mark. “He said I’ve been playing well for a long time, so obviously I’m not just coming in to be a cheerleader and help the boys out, I’m here to play. I feel I have got the ability to play at international level, but you need to be given those opportunities.”

Burn’s career has taken him through various clubs, including Fulham, Wigan, and Brighton, before returning to his boyhood club, Newcastle. He is adaptable and willing to play in any formation under Tuchel, even joking that he would take on a right-wing role if it meant earning his first cap.

As the World Cup approaches, Burn is aware of the significance of this opportunity. “I’m trying to take it camp by camp at the minute, just want to come and make as much of a big impression as I can and make the next camp. Every little kid’s dream is to play in the World Cup and play for your country, so to know I have that opportunity if I take it – yeah, it is special,” he said.

Reflecting on the past, Burn noted, “When the new manager came in, there was a bit of a clean slate, but when you’ve been passed over so many international breaks, you accept the time has passed. Luckily, the new manager has taken a chance on us, so I just want to grasp that opportunity as much as possible.”

In response to Alan Shearer’s suggestion that he consider retirement after his impressive performance in the League Cup final, Burn was adamant: “I still feel I’ve got a good few years left in me yet, no retirement yet!”