The mood around Newcastle United lifted on Sunday night as Dan Burn played all ninety minutes for England in their 2-0 win over Albania, yet the reaction from the national media painted a very mixed picture.
Burn has become a key figure at St James’ Park and has been enjoying a remarkable rise over the last few seasons, but his latest outing for the Three Lions left many questioning whether he truly fits the international stage.
England had already secured qualification for the 2026 World Cup, which allowed Thomas Tuchel to rotate heavily for the final match. Burn was one of those handed a start, but the performance in Tirana never really gathered any rhythm.
England rarely looked troubled, yet they also failed to dominate, drifting through long spells without urgency until Harry Kane stepped up late on to secure the win.
Despite the victory, the national media focused heavily on Burn’s contribution, or in their eyes, the lack of it. Many major outlets landed on the same verdict, rating him a 5/10 and highlighting concerns about his comfort on the ball.
They didn’t criticise his defending, which was solid enough, but they expressed doubts about his ability to play out from the back in the way England’s modern system demands. Standard Sport described it as a “difficult night” and pointed out that his first touch let him down at times, even though he was dominant in the air.
The Daily Express echoed the same rating and mentioned a sloppy pass early in the second half that almost gifted Albania a goal. Other publications followed a similar theme, with Goal calling the display evidence that Burn functions more naturally as a squad player than a guaranteed starter.
The Daily Telegraph highlighted the same misplaced pass that forced Dean Henderson into action, stressing that his defending was steady but his passing remained a concern. The Daily Mirror was slightly more generous with a 6/10, yet still remarked that he wasn’t sharp enough in possession.
However, the statistics told a different story. While critics suggested Burn wasn’t composed on the ball, he actually completed more passes than any other England player on the night.
According to FotMob, he finished with 98 accurate passes out of 102 attempts, giving him a 96% completion rate. That number reflected more than just caution it showed Burn was heavily involved in helping England keep possession, even if the team struggled to move forward with purpose.
His performance included 114 touches, a created chance, and several important defensive interventions. He made two tackles, four clearances, and two interceptions, showing that while he might not always appear glamorous in possession, he still contributed in several meaningful ways.
England may not have looked inspired when building from the back, but that had more to do with the overall lack of intensity than any single player’s shortcomings.
Burn also nearly played a part in a goal when he rose to nod a free-kick back across the box, setting up Jude Bellingham for a chance that the midfielder unfortunately fired over. Aside from his one costly error, the rest of his outing was professional and steady, the kind of performance that might not grab headlines but still earns trust from a manager who values reliability.
Tuchel has shown clear admiration for Burn since taking the England job, and it seems increasingly likely that he will travel to the World Cup next summer as part of the squad.
For Newcastle fans, it is encouraging to see Burn restored to central defence, where many believe he looks most comfortable. But they will not be able to rely on him this weekend, as he is unavailable for the clash against Manchester City due to his recent red card against Brentford.
His absence will be felt, especially at a time when the team needs leaders and experience on the pitch. Even so, Burn continues to prove that his journey is far from slowing down, even if the national media remain divided about how well he fits into England’s plans.
