Burn's absence has not gone unnoticed
· Yahoo Sports
"We're on the telly!" Perhaps not the exact words uttered by Dan Burn Jr, but based upon his big smile and thumbs up once realising both he and his dad had made their way on to the St James' Park big screen on Saturday, I think I'm safe in my assumption.
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The VIP box was as close as Burn Sr got to the weekend's draw with Bournemouth. Injury has ruled him out of action until after the September international break, and his absence in the heart of the Newcastle defence hasn't gone unnoticed.
During the first half in particular, there were numerous examples of both captain Malik Thiaw and Sven Botman looking far from assured with their actions. I wouldn't say the England international is markedly a better defender than either of his team-mates, but what we do know is that Burn is a natural leader who would have helped steady those palpable nerves.
England boss Thomas Tuchel has previously pointed out the importance of the 33-year-old's communication skills both on and off the pitch, while former Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe frequently sang Burn's praises, repeatedly drawing reference to his "consistency" and being someone the team "can rely on".
Such a character and personality is exactly what Newcastle need right now as they look to evolve.
Matthias Jaissle has called for supporters to be patient with their "brave project" of working with more younger players this season. A fully fit Burn will be invaluable to helping the new head coach achieve this goal.