FIGHTING..

Howe tells Toon fans: Get off Dan’s back... it was ’broken’

FEELING THE BURN Toon defender Dan struggled against Luton

EDDIE

Howe has pleaded with Newcastle fans to get off Dan Burn’s ‘broken’ back.

The Toon defender is fighting to keep his place at Nottingham Forest today after his nightmare against Luton last weekend.

But Howe has backed his giant left-back and revealed he put his body on the line with a swift return from a “broken back” he suffered in early November.

The United chief faced questions about United’s leaky defence and injury record, and said: “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 today, especially after subbing him less than an hour into the defeat by Forest at St James’ Park in December when winger Anthony Elanga ran him r agged.

Howe said of Burn (the pair, top right): “I’m sure I’ll be 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.”

Burn ‘broke’ his back against Arsenal on November 4 but returned well ahead of schedule in mid-december

“A broken back was the technical term for his injury,” Howe said. “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 the team needed him. He has played in a little bit of discomfort but got through that. He is pivotal to how we play, a huge leader of the group, physically and vocally.

“Every player in our squad will get criticised from time to time but I’m sure the supporters value him greatly. He needs to be celebrated for his career and for what he’s done since he joined us.”

Howe’s side are languishing in ninth place in the Premier League table but are still in touch with the European qualification places and face Blackburn in the FA Cup fifth round.

Newcastle have suffered freak injuries, like dislocated shoulders for Nick Pope and Jacob Murphy, and Burn’s fall. Howe said: “Maybe our programmes are not good enough in the gym. The players do a lot of gym work. If we are sitting here thinking we have not made any mistakes we would be fools.

“It’s been one of those seasons when you can feel everything has gone against us. Not just in terms of the number of injuries, but also the length of time players have been out.

“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 pick up even more injuries.

“Certainly, we have made mistakes. Certainly, we could do things better.”