New England star Dan Burn has been getting some top tips from ‘beyond the grave’….from Three Lions legend Jack Charlton.
Newcastle United‘s defender was called up for the first time to Thomas Tuchel’s England squad at the age of 32 today. John Charlton, the eldest son of Jack, recently bumped into Dan in a supermarket car park in Newcastle…..and outlined how his dad used to score from corners.
John, a Newcastle fan, explained the tips were passed to him by his dad. John, 66, who owns a bar in Cambois, Northumberland, recalled: “I stopped him in the car park and said ‘do you mind if I have a word? He was very friendly, so I used a nearby telegraph pole as a goal post to show him what my dad used to do before he scored.”
He added that he could still watch Big Jack’s goals online, which Dan agreed to do. The tactical masterclass in the Sainsbury’s car park in Ponteland, Newcastle could be a winner for both England and Newcastle. Burn faces Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday afternoon, with around 50,000 Geordie fans said to be heading to London, before joining up with the Three Lions squad ahead of World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia at Wembley.
United have not won a domestic trophy in 70 years, and their last major honour came in the 1969 Fairs Cup final. Liverpool are 15 points clear at the top of the Premier League, riding high despite Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain at Anfield.
John’s tips will remain a secret until after the final, but he said Dan was ‘good as gold’ and told him: “I am going to tell the team who told me if it works!”
Jack, who died in 2020 aged 85, scored 96 goals in 773 appearances for Leeds United, and six goals in 35 appearances for England, after winning his first cap for the Three Lions late in his career. He is a legend in world football, winning the World Cup for England with brother Bobby in 1966 and going on to manage the Republic of Ireland for 10 years from 1986-96.
‘Big Jack’ began his professional football career at Leeds Utd where he made a record number of appearances. He went on to manage Middlesbrough, Sheffield Wednesday and Newcastle United.
He took charge of the Republic of Ireland to the 1988 European Championships and 1990 World Cup. Burn, one the tallest Premier League players in history at 6ft 7in tall, has much in common with Charlton; born in Northumberland, he is a huge fans’ favourite and has never forgotten his roots; Jack was also called up late in his career for England, at the age of 29.
Burn told young fans in an encounter filmed for Toon supporters that he has taught the Toon’s Swedish £60m superstar Alexander Isak some Geordie sayings. Isak now says ‘Alreet wor kid?’ and ‘Howay man’ at the training ground.
Asked what he would call a pub if he opened one, Burn said: “The Lanky Giraffe. And it would be right outside the stadium.” Despite numerous offers, Burn has yet to order a made-to-measure suit for the final. But he did agree to do his dance moves for the interview. He joked: “I got loads of messages before our first League Cup final offering to fit me for a suit. I should have taken one really.”
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