Howe urges Newcastle fans to get off Burn's "broken back" and makes injury vow
Eddie Howe reckons he’s getting “slaughtered” - but has told fans to get off Dan Burn’s “broken” back.
Newcastle ’s Geordie defender is fighting to keep his place against Nottingham Forest on Saturday after his nightmare against Luton last weekend. But Howe has backed his giant left back as “one of my best signings” and revealed he put his body on the line with a swift return from a “broken back” in early November.
The United head coach today faced questions about United’s leaky defence and injury record claiming: “We have made mistakes, we could do things better… Maybe our programmes are not good enough in the gym."
His biggest dilemma is whether to start Burn, especially after subbing him after 54 minutes in the defeat to Forest at St James’ Park in December when winger Anthony Elanga ran riot with his pace.
Howe said of Burn: “Criticism is a strange thing. I'm sure I'm getting absolutely slaughtered out in the wider world. I prefer to keep myself away from it and I'm sure Dan is the same because he’s experienced. He is up there in terms of the most important signings we’ve made. I can't speak highly enough of him but that doesn't guarantee him a place in the team.
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Dan Burn and Bruno Guimaraes of Newcastle United show appreciation to the fans (Getty Images)“He is always adding energy to me. His leadership skills are second to none. 'Broken back' was the technical term for his injury when he landed. I don’t know how you prevent that. It was an accidental fall. He showed tremendous courage to come back way ahead of schedule because you could see the team needed him. He has played in a little bit of discomfort, but has got through that.
“He is pivotal to how we play without giving tactical things away. He was a miss when we lost him and he is a huge leader of the group physically and vocally. He has been an incredible signing much better than I could have hope. Every player in our squad will get criticised from time to time, and they know they live in that world. As long as Dan feels the love from everyone internally, and I'm sure the supporters value him greatly, actually. He needs to be celebrated for his career and for what he's done since he joined the club, not the other way around.”
Howe’s side are struggling in ninth place but are still in touch with European qualification places and face Blackburn in the FA Cup fifth round. Newcastle have suffered “freak” injuries like Nick Pope and Jacob Murphy’s shoulder dislocations, and Burn’s fall and Elliott Anderson’s back.
But Howe said: “Usually your muscle pulls, you're looking at and going, 'Is there a way we could have avoided that?' Some have come from too much load or maybe our programmes are not good enough in the gym. The players do a lot of gym work. If we are sitting here going we have not made any mistakes I think we are being fools.
Aexander Isak won't be fit to face Nottingham Forest (ADAM VAUGHAN/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)“When I say we are, I include everyone at the football club. No individual, no individual department, we are all in it together. Of course we have to look at that and respond and improve. It’s been one of those seasons where you can feel everything has gone against us.
"We hope it’s been a one off season. Not just the number of injuries, but the length of time. It has been three or four months for five, six, eight players. There has been no light at the end of the tunnel and then your squad is stretched and you get more injuries. Certainly, we have made mistakes. Certainly we could do things better. And then you add Sandro (Tonali’s betting ban).”
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