Dan Burn does not hold back on Newcastle United - challenge set to teammates

Eddie Howe’s men surrendered a lead as the Seagulls dumped them out of the FA Cup in extra time. Newcastle were second favourites to win the competition before kick-off, with Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur eliminated in earlier rounds.

A win would have set up a quarter-final clash with Nottingham Forest at St James’ Park. However, as has often been the case this season, the Magpies crumbled on home soil.

Negativity has crept into Toon circles on social media in recent days following injuries to Sven Botman and Lewis Hall, with Anthony Gordon also suspended. Speaking at the North East Football Writers Awards, Burn remained positive while issuing a battle cry to his teammates.

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“As inconsistent as we have been this season, we are still in a good position for what we want to achieve,” he said. “We are in the European places and, although the league is so tight, we just need to put another run together, like the one we had over Christmas, to cement that position. 

“Then we have obviously got the final just around the corner too, which is a massive opportunity. We know that if we can just get that inconsistency together and click, we can be a really good team. The fact we are seeing the FA Cup as a big, missed opportunity, just shows where the club is at. The gaffer has brought that in.

“I can’t comment too much on what went on before the gaffer came in with the different ownership but I definitely feel as though there’s a real emphasis on the cups now - a real belief that we can get to the latter stages of whatever competition we’re in.

“We want to get to finals and, when you get to within a game of the quarter-finals, then go out in extra time, it definitely feels like you have missed a chance to potentially do something special (in the FA Cup).”