Why Dan Burn drops out of Newcastle United’s starting XI v Everton

Dan Burn is among three Newcastle United players to drop out of the starting XI for this evening’s encounter at Everton (kick-off 7:45pm).

The Blyth-born defender has started the Magpies’ last 25 Premier League matches after stepping into left-back in place of Matt Targett.

Targett’s first-half of the campaign was dictated by illness and injuries but Burn’s excellent form has namely kept United’s £12millon summer signing out of the side.

However, Targett is recalled at Goodison Park tonight for his first league start since September after Burn suffered from illness in the build-up to the fixture. The 30-year-old is fit enough to make the bench.

“Matt’s been really unfortunate. He’s been a victim of the team’s success, really,” Howe said recently.

“I am a believer in a consistent back four. That is an area of the team I would not want to rotate too much if possible, so all of the defenders that have found themselves out of the team have been victims of the consistency of the players that have played.

“The defensive record has been very strong. I don’t think we were at our very best defensively against West Ham, but it was great to see Matt on the pitch and he’s very much valued by us. We’ll look at the opposition, as we always do, and try to pick the best team to win the game.”

Callum Wilson and Miguel Almiron are the other changes for United as Alexander Isak and Jacob Murphy are replaced.

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