Newcastle thrash PSG on Champions League homecoming

NEWCASTLE: If you were to draw a path to Champions League football, it is unlikely you would sketch the rags to riches rise of Dan Burn.

Released by the Magpies before his teenage years, the Geordie was kicking around with Blyth Town and New Hartley the last time Newcastle United were in Champions League action in 2003.

Not for one second did he imagine the next time his boyhood heroes would play in Europe’s premier competition, that he would be hailed as the hero.

Hometown club Blyth Spartans handed defender Burn the chance to prove his worth, followed by non-league Darlington. Spells at Yeovil Town, Birmingham City, Wigan Athletic, and Brighton and Hove Albion then followed before manager Eddie Howe and Newcastle came knocking again in the first transfer window after the PIF takeover.

A low-key, low-maintenance signing, Burn slotted into the center of a back four perfectly, before a shift to an unnatural left position with the arrival of Sven Botman. And while many have written him off, time and time again, Burn continues to be a great survivor on Tyneside.

Finally, after a flawless, goalscoring display against PSG in which he kept both Randal Kolo Muani and Ousmane Dembele quiet, some respect is finally being put on his name.

On the 4-1 win, in which he netted the second goal, Burn said: “Crazy. It has not sunk in; I am a bit speechless. We wanted to entertain the crowd and get the crowd behind us, but we did well.

“We knew PSG were not going to change the way they play. The times to play high up the pitch and we had the crowd pushing us, we had that for the last goal with the crowd pushing us on for Fabs (Fabian Schar) goal.

“I just try to survive at that apprentice level, and you try to work your way up. I