Born in Blyth (or should we say 'The Boy from Blyth'), Dan grew up a Newcastle United fan but would have to wait a LONG time to play for his boyhood club after being released by the club as a youngster.

He would eventually sign for the Magpies in what was the craziest of first transfer windows under the new PIF, Reuben and Staveley ownership. With manager Eddie Howe desperate to convert the worst defence in the league to something he could build his attacking football upon, the 6'7" Brighton player would be brought in on the Winter Deadline Day of the 2021/2022 season for £13m.

That £13m, probably overpriced at the time for a 29 year old, was part of a £90m spending spree that would also see Trippier added at right back and Targett added as a left back (on loan from Aston Villa).

Little did we know then what was in store for Big Dan Burn and his time at Newcastle.

Avoiding relegation in that first season was the ambition with Eddie Howe having arrived with the club 19th and almost certain to go down. Burn would play his part in ensuring that did not happen with the Magpies finishing comfortably mid table.

In the 22/23 season Dan would be deployed at left back in a successful spell (with Schar and Botman holding on to their Centre Half places). That season Newcastle would get to the League Cup final with Dan playing his part scoring a 'right foot' effort against Leicester in the Quarter Final. Dan famously repeated the Gazza line of 'I'm going to get my suit measured' as the Magpies overcame Southampton to reach the final. But the team failed to perform on the big day with the entire occasion seeming to get the better of the club who seemed to put all their efforts into the pre-match leaving them drained by the final, a 2-0 loss to Manchester United.

Qualification for the Champions League would happen that season however and in 23/24 Dan bustled in the second goal of the game in what would end up a 4-1 win against the mighty PSG. A memorable night for everyone involved.

By now a cult hero, is was the season after that would see Dan elevated to Club Legend. A run to the League Cup Final again would give everyone at the club a chance to right the wrongs of two years earlier. The run to the final had proved epic enough, beating Wimbledon, Brentford but then all of the then top four (Chelsea, Forest and Arsenal home and away in the Semi's) other than run away league leaders Liverpool who, of course, we drew in the final.

An first England call up just two days before the Final (aged 32) might have put a further spring in Dan's steps and perhaps it was that spring that helped him head home a memorable first goal at Wembley for 25 years for the club just before half time. His 'Man of the Match' performance in the final also saw him keep Mo Salah quiet all game and with Isak scoring a second early in the second half for Newcastle even an injury time goal for Liverpool would not see Newcastle United denied this time.

2-1. And a first domestic trophy for 70 years. A first trophy of any kind since the 1969 Fairs Cup win.

Five days later, without time to party, he made his England debut in a win over Albania, hitting the crossbar in a 2-0 win. Well, you can't have (quite) everything Dan.

'The Boy From Blyth' as the commentator called him as he wheeled away after scoring the cup final opener. A LONG journey home indeed. But worth it. One of our own.