One on One | A year in the life of Newcastle's Dan Burn, from League Cup to World Cup!

0:04Hello and welcome back to One on One from Sky Sports. I'm Juliette Ferrington and this is the podcast where we talk to some of football's top names or on this episode, could that be the tallest? Because if you are a regular listener to this pod, you may remember around this time last year, a conversation I had with Big Dan Burn because that's how everyone knows him, the Newcastle defender, Big Dan Burn. Anyway, he had quite a week after we first spoke last year because he scored in the League Cup final to help Newcastle lift their first trophy in 60 years. And he got an England call up. So 12 months on, I went back to Bly to reflect on the past year that he'd had.

0:42He's still believing and still dreaming and he still has so much more to give. So here we go again. Sky Sports one on one with Dan Byrne. Picking up to 45. Trippier with Drift. In goes Byrne!

0:59It's the boy from Blythe! A Wembley goal for the first time in a Geordie generation! What a header! It's zero-eight! So Dan, just looking back, the last time we were here, it was a glorious day and the sun was beating down, it's pouring down with rain at the moment but one of the last things you said to me was if it was to end tomorrow, your footballing career, you'd be really proud, really happy for everything that you've achieved and then the week that followed. Can you talk us through that week? Yeah, crazy week. I think it was probably just a couple of days later, but yeah, getting the text off.

1:38I've spoken about the text off Thomas Tuchel and not really believing that he'd actually texted us and then spoke to him on FaceTime and he sort of said that he was thinking about calling us up. So it was just a whirlwind week. Yeah, and then we had the final on the Saturday or the Sunday and then straight off to England. So that probably three weeks after that had been sort of the craziest couple of weeks of my life. So, yeah, I'll say it again now and then say what happens. My career ends now, I'm happy. Your career ends now, you're happy. Yeah, I'm happy, yeah. But even though you want it to continue, obviously.

2:13Yeah, definitely, yeah. And you want to kind of be that part and that set-up of England looking ahead to the World Cup this summer. Yeah, hugely. I think, like, I feel like that's happened as I've gotten older and matured a bit. I probably would have shied away a little bit from it and said I didn't want to think about it or it'll happen, but I'm desperate to be there. I want to be there. I feel like doing what I'm doing at the moment is taking us on that course. Don't get us wrong. A lot can change. You've got March International Break coming up. But I want to be there. It's not where I'm going to be.

2:47Get another chance. If I don't get this one, it's not going to happen. But, yeah, an amazing place to be at the moment. I've made the last however many camps since the managers came in and yeah I'm playing full of confidence You very much made his first camp and you were in a good place though 12 months ago you were happy with everything you were just content Yeah I think that does the same sort of thing I think that happens when you get older I've sport about like since I've had kids it sort of mellowed us out a little bit and I think just knowing that football is important but it's not like the be all and end all sort of relaxes a little bit and I just sort of take everything as it comes really.

3:28Did it make it easier the fact that, well, before you didn't know he was watching you, so I guess that's the easy part because you just did what you would do but now you know that you are being watched and you are being talked about and you are being thought of. Yeah, I think it adds a layer to it. I think normally if he's coming to watch you play you'll get a text in the morning and he'll just sort of say oh good luck today I'm coming to watch I'll try and catch up with you after so I think that immediately you're like I've got to play well today so just add a little bit but I think it's one of those where now I feel like I've the way that I prepare for games and recover from games and set myself up I feel like whatever sort of happens is is going to happen like I can't have done any more in my preparation for some games so I feel like everything just sort of takes sort of care of itself when it comes to that to be honest.

4:17Have you changed your routine? No, not on a lot of times. Not even because of what's going on and what could happen? No, not really, because I feel like that sets you up in a mentality where you get nervous for games, as in the adrenaline of the games, but I used to get nervous when I was younger because it was that thought of failure or I haven't prepared properly or I could have done more, whereas now I feel like I've got a routine and as long as I do that routine, which I think you'll hear a lot of sports people talk about, but that everything sort of takes care of itself and then whatever happens in the game will happen and you can't really control that.

4:53Do all players in the England set-up, do they all have that open line of communication within them when you say that he does message you to let you know that he's going to be in the stands watching? From what I've seen, yeah, I think it tends to come to games where there's lots of lads from England playing those games. I've seen it a few times, the Villa games, because there's players on both sides. But it tends to be, yeah, he must have that line of communication with people because he is he does get quite close to the players and you're getting your text off and just asking how you're doing and stuff and I feel like that's sort of created the atmosphere that we were looking to create anyway and I know Gareth did a great job with doing that as well It did seem like a club set up with Gareth Which I think is good and I feel like you need that because I feel like especially going into a World Cup you'll probably have a group of players who are playing and know they're going to play every weekend and you'll probably have a group of lads who know that they're maybe not going to start all the time but they're quite important as well as in when you're training or trying to keep the mood high and you want to spend a lot of time with each other so I think it's important to have that feel in and around the place.

5:57I just wonder, do you reach out to him or do you wait for him to contact you? It just depends really. I have to send them the odd text just to ask questions or a bit of advice or whatever but it tends to be him. Him or Anthony Barry tend to be the ones that messages and just sort of check in. Like when I got injured after the first Sunderland game with him and both Texans just asking how I was. So it's nice to know that they sort of care. Have you got used to the England kit then, the training kit? I mean, the first time it was there ready and waiting for you. It was all over social media. You took the selfie, did you?

6:32Straight to my wife, yeah, like an England kit. First time, like, yeah, it's special though. It's like the first time you get to have that England badge on your chest and, like, it very quickly becomes normal, if you know what I mean like the same when I played for Newcastle like the first time I ran out of St James' it was like wow this is crazy but it very quickly just becomes like a normal thing so it's nice to look back on it and think like how special that moment was and that week was I just think it's because not that you well probably wasn't you weren't expecting it but for the way that your whole career has gone from start to where it is now that must it just makes I can't speak for everybody, but it just makes you feel happy.

7:17Oh, I appreciate it. No, but it does. No, I think it's nice. I think it's nice to see, like, everybody's career isn't the same sometimes. And as I said, it wasn't something that I was ever expecting. Like, I felt as if I was playing at a level where I could be, but I feel like we'd sport about it when you've been hitting a certain level for an amount of time and you're still not getting picked. You sort of accept the sort of situation. so it was something that I'd said right there and then if my career had finished back then and I hadn't even played for England or done all of that I still would have been happy so it was just like everything from that point was just sort of a bonus but now I feel like I've got a real drive again to sort of continue and push on for as long as I can I'm 33 years old but I still feel as if I don't feel like I've peaked hopefully, we'll see judges at the end of the season But then obviously the League Cup final happened and you won that.

8:11And I just wondered, because then obviously you then shoot off to England straight away, when did you actually get a chance to celebrate that League Cup win? Yeah, it was probably the parade. I think that was probably the first time that it sort of really sunk in. I said after the game, it was like I had quite a numb feeling, which was strange because I feel like you build it up in your head and think about it. I've dreamt about that moment so much since I was a kid that I've already lived it hundreds of times over. So when it actually came to us, it was a bit like, oh, yeah, this is what it feels like.

8:44And it was a bit strange. Surreal? Yeah, very surreal. A bit overwhelming, to be honest. And then I think you feel like you appreciate the journey more. It was the moments that got with air or all the build-up and the preparation that you do, you feel like those are the moments that are actually worth it when you get there at the end. So I feel like I didn't really think about it. I had the England set up, and then when we went to the parade and the bus was sort of coming down past St James's and you could see people crying and I unveiled a big banner of the manager and flares going off and just everywhere you looked it was just full of Geordie's.

9:19I think that was the first time that you realised the scale of the achievement that you've made. But the impact you've also had on these people in this city. Yeah, and people still come up to us now and say, oh, me dad saw that and he passed away. like three weeks later or like people who hadn't had a chance to to see that and I'll just how grateful people were that it happened and it's like you don't because you're in your own little bubble and as soon as that cup file had finished I went off to England and then back on at the season like you don't really realize the effect that that moment sort of had on on the city and I still probably don't now I think it'll probably be years to come when I finish my career and I look back on it and think wow that was huge but at the moment I feel like you you're so focused It's like you straight away switch onto the next thing.

10:03Like, right, OK, so now what are we going to do? What are we going to do? So it's quite a strange feeling. Often you hear players and managers say as well that they don't actually think about it until they've finished. And then they have that time to truly appreciate what they've achieved or what they've won. Is that the same for you? Yeah, I think so. I feel like if you look back on what's happened and you can get caught up in it and, like, not get to your head a little bit, but I feel like, wow, I've achieved quite a bit considering what I felt as if I could have achieved. You've went past that.

10:36So I feel like the place that football is now at the minute, you haven't really got time to be like that. You've just got to focus on going on to the next thing because at the same time you know that if you're not playing well, players are going to be brought into a place. You've got young lads coming through, so a lot can change and it can change very quickly. Willock through here, tees it up. It's Anthony Gordon. It's 1-0 to Newcastle United. And despite making all the early running, Chelsea find themselves behind. It's just non-stop at the moment to fix your list. But at the same time, this is why you want to play football.

11:14You want to play Barcelona, Chelsea, Barcelona, something like the games that you dream of playing. So, yeah, it's a nice feeling, but yeah, it's hard. So how does that process work then as a player to get the best out of yourselves and as a team and to find that rhythm that you do find in the Champions League and apply it to domestic football? Yeah, it's tough. I think you need momentum. I think that's the biggest thing. And I think, obviously, the Champions League games are very easy for players to get themselves motivated to play in the Champions League. But I think the best teams, I've said it before, like your Man City, which, in my opinion, are, mentality-wise, the best team.

11:55They can just hit that mark every single game. normally like whether they're playing League Cup, FA Cup, Premier League, Champions League always seem to be at that level and I feel like it's quite hard. I feel like that's the thing that you've got to learn when you're doing this regularly that you've got to hit that level all the time or you get punished for it and I think we've done that a little bit this season. The goal at the start of the season we said we wanted to do back-to-back Champions League because it's never been done before at Newcastle and I think we're frustrated because I feel like there's definitely points left out there.

12:26A few times we conceded late or conceded as soon as we've scored and I think that's hurt our chances massively but we know that we've got ability in the squad to put a run together which we seem to do every single year so I'm still waiting for it and hoping it'll happen.

12:53Backham Mayhem! He tries to get a defensive end of it, but he's been proud of that at the other end of the pitch. He gives his goalkeeper no chance. And now, after all of this, comes Sunderland. How do you feel about the time we're at Derby? Because it is back. That's another thing that's happened in the last 12 months with Sunderland being promoted. You didn't come off very well in it the last time. Not quite. Were you angry? Were you frustrated? because it kind of sidelined you for quite a few weeks. Yeah, obviously really frustrated. It was a type of injury I've not really had before, so it was the unknown for me.

13:31I think I've 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 sort of Sunderland game has been marked since that happened and you're waiting for it. also respecting that of how many games you're having to prepare for before that, knowing that we'll have Chelsea and Barcelona before that as well. But yeah, I think I've been very lucky that I've managed to tick off a lot of things I wanted to do at Newcastle.

14:06And I feel like the sort of 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. The home game against Sunderland, it's produced some moments, hasn't it, in years gone by? Yeah, I think the last sort of game I really remember going to Newcastle before I started playing professionally, so I couldn't go to the games anymore when we beat them 5-1 at home. So Chola, Skola and Kevin Holland got a hat-rick. And that was one of my last memories is sitting in the East End. I was a Dalton at the time at the youth team and half the lads were Newcastle fans and half the lads were Sunderland fans.

14:43So it was a good build-up that week, just bantering each other or whatever, and then us having the bragging rights going into a train on the Monday. But when you're going as a fan to those type of matches, what is that feeling like? Because you've said you've waited a long time to have them at your place. Yeah, it's just a pride thing, isn't it? I think people don't really understand unless you're from the area. It's not where both of the teams are in the same city, like Liverpool and Everton are... The Manchester teams. Yeah, Manchester Derby are sort of Villa Birmingham. There's a good distance away, but just like the hatred is a strong word but yeah like if you ask like me dad's generation it will be i think it's just that we like they had one sundland fan i remember in my school and bless him he took some stick um so it's just like that um it was just something i look forward to i've said this before but when me and me and my brother used to share a season ticket and like it was like sundland and the big six like the teams in a separate hat and you were like desperate to sort of bring sundland out and like i'm happy that they're back in the league because i feel like I've been missing the last few years like that.

15:47You've missed them? Yeah missed them as in be careful yeah but no I've missed it I like and I'm happy that I'm genuinely happy when Sunderland came up because I feel like the whole generation's missed out on the derbies and like the how excited people get for the games and the build up of those games and like Middlesbrough as well I'd be more than happy for Middlesbrough to come up again just for like the North East in general as a football and I want them to do well but not too well I don't want to do better than us but But it's that rivalry, isn't it? And you all try and bring the best out of each other.

16:15Yeah, definitely. I think the crowd and the atmosphere, even the away game, I have to say the atmosphere was unreal. What you imagined and dreamt of going to a Sunderland away game, that was it. It was hostile. When you were going out, you were getting booed and stuff. And that's what you want. That's what you dream of when you're a kid, going to those sort of games. So I'm pretty sure it'll be the same for Sunderland coming to Newcastle. Is it not just you that's marked Sunderland after the result just before Christmas? It'll be everyone. I think the lads were disappointed in how we performed and we'll want a reaction to that.

16:53Obviously, the minute Sunderland have got that sort of bragging rights and you don't want that, especially you would never want them to beat with twice in a season. So that'll be a game that we'll be well prepared for and we'll be looking to win. And when you look, just being the player and with your peers and your colleagues, whatever you want to call them, do you admire what they've done this season? Yeah, I'm really proud of it. I know that it's hard because the league position isn't where we want to be, but I think for the amount of games that we went through and the different competitions we've played in, I feel like we've not left one competition to the side or anything.

17:33and we've really went for all four of the things that we're in. A lot of work's gone into that that people don't see. I'm very, very proud of what the lads have done, but it doesn't stop now. We could really change the dynamic of the season and finish in a strong one. You're in the final furlong. You're in the home straight, aren't you, to try and get something from it. I think as well, going into after Marchant National, we'll have that build-up that we've been speaking about where we get a week to prepare for teams and stuff. And I think that will where we'll not be able to use that excuse anymore.

18:09But I feel like we're better when we're out on the training pitch and doing that. So hopefully we'll put a good run together and finish off stronger. I mean, it's been a hell of a 12 months for you personally. I just wonder, do you allow yourself to think about what could be this summer? Or do you just try and box it off? Yeah, I feel like I'm quite good at compartmentalising, hopefully that's the word, of just putting things in a box. But it's inevitable that you're thinking about it like I'm human, you're going to think about it. Getting to this stage of the season, everyone's looking at the league table and saying, where can we finish?

18:46Or teams that are struggling for relegation, how many points do we need to hit? So it's only natural that I'm thinking about the summer and possibly going to the World Cup and stuff. Even saying those words is mad. but I feel like you've I've worked really hard to get in the position that I'm at and it's not by I said it last year, it's not by luck that I'm in this position so I'm trying to like speak it out into the open and hopefully it'll come true Dan, it's been an absolute pleasure, thank you Thank you very much I've got to say, he really is as nice as he sounds this time last year when we met up it was glorious sunshine but this time when we spoke in the CAF in Blythe It was pouring down with rain outside.

19:29It was so cold, but it's so good for him to have had the year he's just had. I'm absolutely made up for him. It's Sunderland this weekend for Newcastle in the Time Weir Derby. And you can watch that on Sky Sports from midday on Sunday.

19:46That's it for this episode of One on One. Now, we're going to be taking a short break on this show over the international period. But don't worry, we'll be back soon with another podcast. So if you don't already give this show a follow, wherever you listen to your podcasts, you don't miss us. In the meantime, you can always go back to that first conversation with Dan and give that interview another spin if you want to. And you can watch all our interviews across Sky Sports YouTube channel. Just search for one on one. Thanks for listening. We'll talk to you soon.

20:29Hello, I'm Simon Lazenby. Join me and a host of top guests on the F1 show after every round of the 2026 Formula One World Championship. We'll analyse and debate every twist and turn of what's sure to be a memorable season. New regs, new rules, but same show. Listen to our podcast on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts, or watch us on the Sky Sports F1 YouTube channel. That's the F1 Show from Sky Sports.