Former Yeovil Town manager Gary Johnson is “proud” of the part he played early in the career of Dan Burn, the latest player to be called up to represent England internationally.
Together with Arsenal teenager Myles Lewis-Skelly, the Newcastle defender was one of two first-time call-ups in Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad for their 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Johnson’s former side, Latvia.
The current Cheltenham Town director of football gave Burn his first taste of professional football at Yeovil Town, and in his one season in Somerset, the defender played a crucial role in the Glovers’ promotion to the Championship.
On loan from Fulham, Burn scored a header to put Town 2-0 up in the 2012/13 League One play-off final against Brentford, which they went on to win 2-1.
“I’m very proud that we at Yeovil played a small part in his career, which has now culminated into an England call-up. It’s something he’s deserved for his passion for the game,” he said.
“When he was with us, he was a competitive, aggressive centre-half that was very athletic with a great left foot. Those qualities make him unique. You wouldn’t expect somebody as tall as him to be as athletic as him.
“It’s only the real great international centre-halves, if you like, that possess those rare attributes, and he’s now one of them. It’s difficult to have long legs, and move them quickly like he does.”
“You knew he was going to become a player, because he was six foot seven then as well, and he just had everything you needed physically. When you put that with commitment and aggression in your head, and mentally you’re up for it, then you’ve cracked it.”
Embed from Getty ImagesThe stature of both Burn, and centre-back partner Byron Webster made Yeovil an imposing side defensively, and the pair were an advantage when attacking dead ball situations.
It was from a new corner tactic that Johnson, and his coaching team of club legends Terry Skiverton and Darren Way, fabricated in the build-up to the Wembley final, that Burn doubled the Glovers’ advantage five minutes before the break.
“He was part of all our free-kicks, and of course he got the second goal at Wembley from a corner,” Johnson said.
“It was a corner that we’d worked on, and every one of our corners was looking to find either Webster or Burn. On that occasion, it was Burny, and he scored our second, on the stroke of half time.”
“He celebrated like he’d won the World Cup, maybe now he might actually have an opportunity to do it,” Johnson said.
Embed from Getty ImagesBurn will be hoping to feature in one of the Three Lions’ first two qualifiers of their campaign to reach the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
Thomas Tuchel named the defender in his first 26-man England squad, and Johnson believes that Burn has the qualities to be a useful player for his country.
“I think he’ll offer something different, he can play anywhere from the central to the left-hand side of defence, and he can even play left wing back.
“He’s a great lad, Tuchel was obviously impressed enough when Dan played against him, to remember him. Now he’s picking him in the England team.
“He was an ever-present in my team, and as he’s moved from club to club, he’s been an ever-present for all managers at all levels. Sometimes you need a big man.”
