Latest. Dan Burn: "The older I'm getting, I'm still getting better"

Dan Burn (England press conference)
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3 hours ago
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Ahead of England's 2026 World Cup qualifying double-header against Andorra and Serbia, Dan Burn believes he is building in confidence and is "in a really good place".

Burn, who made his senior international debut for the Three Lions in March's 2-0 win against Albania at Wembley Stadium five days after netting in Newcastle United's 2-1 Carabao Cup final win against Liverpool, believes he has grown in belief that he warrants a regular spot in Thomas Tuchel's squad since receiving his first call-up six months prior.

Speaking on Friday ahead of England's clash against Andorra at Villa Park, Burn said: "I think the first camp was amazing to be there but the more camps I go on, I feel more confident in my own ability to play at this level.

"It's the unknown when you come here until you've played a game and you don't know if you can do it, but now I've done it and building up the camps, I feel I should be here and deserve my place.

"I've been playing well for a long time now and I think that's built a lot of confidence in me, being successful last season with winning the League Cup and getting into the Champions League so I feel in a really good place.

"I still feel as if the older I'm getting, I'm still getting better. It's an exciting season. Now that I'm 33, I'm getting the chance to play Champions League football again and the possibility of making a World Cup squad motivates me to keep pushing myself further."

Burn added to his appearance tally at international level in June after starting in England's 1-0 win against Andorra in Barcelona, with Harry Kane's strike proving the difference against the stubborn hosts, ranked 174th in the world.

The Blyth-born defender, hopeful of being named in a major international tournament squad for the first time in his career next year, believes the team's approach remains the same, no matter what level of opposition they face.

"I try to go in with the mentality that I'm leaving absolutely everything out there," he added. "I've always, in my career, tried to not have any regrets.

"I think there was a lot of learning from the last time we played Andorra, maybe tactical things we didn't get right or could change a little bit. From a mentality view, I think a lot of the lads are used to playing in these games where you're on the ball constantly, expecting to dominate and I'm not used to that with the teams I've played for in the past.

"Whether we're playing Brazil, Argentina or Andorra, I feel the mentality towards the games doesn't change for the top teams."

Tuchel has displayed strong faith in Burn since being named as the England men's head coach in October and the experienced defender believes there are similarities between the German manager and Magpies boss Eddie Howe.

"I've worked with Eddie for (over) three years now and it's relentless the way he works, leaving no stone unturned," he explained.

"When we go in, I know exactly what I'm expected to do and if, nine times out of ten, we do what we're asked to do, we tend to win the game and it's the same with the manager (Tuchel).

"I think it's harder because we don't have that amount of time every single day that we get with club managers but this has been a really good week. We've needed this week to know and expect what the gaffer wants from us and, hopefully, try to put that into practice in the game tomorrow."

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