‘Sensational’: Alan Shearer has been very impressed with £13m Newcastle United player this season

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Alan Shearer has lavished praise on Newcastle United defender Dan Burn, who has missed out on England’s World Cup squad.

Burn signed for his boyhood club from Brighton during the January transfer window for a reported fee of £13 million.

He shone at centre-back last term as Newcastle avoided relegation and since the arrival of Sven Botman, who has also been left out by the Netherlands, he has moved over to left-back.

Gareth Southgate has not taken specialist, left-footed cover for Luke Shaw to Qatar and Ben Chilwell’s injury may well have given Burn a sniff of the squad.

Shearer on Burn

When discussing England’s central defensive options with fellow pundit Jamie Carragher, Shearer said: “One other name I’d like to put in the mix is Dan Burn.

“Carra has mentioned (Conor) Coady and (James) Tarkowski at Everton and forming a good partnership.

“If you’re talking about those two, I’d have to chuck in Burn too. He’s been sensational for Newcastle.

“Left-back or centre-half, but I’d have to go along with Dier (in the England team) as well.”

Burn may feel hard done by not to be involved, but the lack of left-back cover may mean Kieran Trippier gets into the team on that side.

If something happens to Shaw, that seems likely to be Southgate’s first port of call, with Bukayo Saka also an option he has used at left wing-back.

Burn will get a rest during the World Cup and he and Botman may well come back to Premier League action in December doubly motivated to prove their international managers wrong.