DAN CAN RIDE THE TIDE OF SUCCESS

JUST like in TV’S Royal Navy advert, Dan Burn was born in Blyth but ‘left a small town and turned it around.’

After charting the choppy waters of rejection as an 11-year-old at Newcastle, Burn dropped anchor at Darlington, Fulham, Yeovil, Birmingham, Wigan and Brighton.

Now at the age of 29 the 6ft 7in defender (below) is back where it all started finally wearing the famous black and white shirt of the team he supported as a kid.

As a footballer he has been forced to do a lot of growing up as the cards of fate appeared to be stacked against him.

None more so than when he found himself working part-time at Asda while making the arduous trip from his home to train with

Darlington.

Fulham managed to lure him away from his native north east before loan spells at Yeovil and Birmingham and a move to Wigan where he quickly became one of manager Paul Cook’s first picks.

“His enthusiasm and work ethic rubs off on his teammates,” Cook said.

“I know how excited he will be about stepping out at St James’ Park as a Newcastle player. It’s a great signing for them.”

It is of little consolation for boss Graham Potter that Brighton made a £10million profit on their £3m signing from Wigan.

Not only was he a cult hero among the Seagulls fans, Potter wishes there were more players with Burn’s drive and commitment.

He said: “Dan has been brilliant for me. He is a superb professional, adaptable and a great character.

“We will miss him here but we understand his reasons for wanting to move.”

Now the biggest problem for the giant defender is sorting out more tickets for when Brighton visit Tyneside next month.

“Luckily, I had already bought some but was expecting to be in the

Brighton side not Newcastle’s,” he said.

As the RAF advert says, ‘Reaching heights I never thought I would reach’.