World Cup 2026: The England team you’ve never heard of

Thanos moved to Grimsby Town on the back of his performance and the tournament also proved a showcase for Burn.

Craig Liddle, who was Darlington’s head of youth development at the time, told Watson about him.

“I remember him telling me that Dan reminded him of Tony Adams and that he would play for England one day,” he said.

“That was a pretty incredible statement.”

Liddle, though, was quickly impressed by Burn’s size, comfort on the ball and desire to win.

He was surprised nobody picked up Burn after the defender played for Blyth Spartans’ junior team for most of his teenage years.

Liddle was so confident about Burn that he instructed academy recruitment chief Les Way to speak to the teenager’s parents before the end of an England game because he “didn’t want anyone to eat quietly in front of us”.

The rest was history.

Such was Burn’s subsequent progress at Darlington, he moved there Fulham In 2011, only to be released after a few years.

However, he bounced back again.

Follow and spell at Wigan BrightonBurn back NewcastleHe was instrumental in his boyhood club avoiding relegation trouble and qualifying for the Champions League in 2023 and 2025.

Bern even scored the opening goal Newcastle The defeat ended a 70-year wait to win a major domestic trophy Liverpool In the final of the EFL Cup.

The centre-back made his England debut the following week and has become a valuable member of the squad under Tuchel, who is trying to build a “brotherhood”.

Burn was well aware of his role at the World Cup, as he watched those around him push in training, but vowed to be ready if called upon from the bench.

The prospect of the 34-year-old making his tournament debut would be the latest chapter in a remarkable saga.

“He had the will to stick in and come through with fight and determination,” Liddle added.

“It’s unbelievable how far he’s gotten.”