The defensive hierarchy of England has been turned upside down by a 6ft 7 in Geordie.
Due to his own recognition, Burn then had the most incredible eight days of his 16-year-old professional football life. Recalled by England for the first time at the age of 32, two days later he scored in Wembley and lifted the Carabao Cup for his boy's club Newcastle to end their 70-year-old inner trophy-dried, before he had a debut in England against Albania on Friday.
He managed two excellent Wembley versions in the space of a week. But it was the second of that, in the first match of Thomas Tuchel who was responsible for the national team, who uprooted our thinking about the defensive branch of England.
For the past 12 months, Marc Guehi has been the most consistent in the middle of England, with the Crystal Palace-Man first at the National Team Sheet, and worked together in the starting XI by a large number of different players. He started six of the seven games for England at Euro 2024 and only missed the quarterfinals against Switzerland because of suspension. Guehi has consistently been the top of the pecking order under Gareth Southgate, and more recently under Lee Carsley.
But it seems that Tuchel may have different ideas. The 24 -year -old was relegated on Friday to the bank for the World Cup qualifying match, which suggests that the two starters against Albania – Ezri Konsa and Burn – are the current favorites of Tuchel, with the wounded John Stones and Harry Maguire to come back in the settlement of England. Guehi struggled with a sore knee a month ago, but has since played three full matches, so the worries of injuries do not seem to play here.
“It was a simple decision to bring him in after the huge final (burn) and I didn't want to disturb his golf – he's good,” Tuchel told ITV. “It could have been Marc Guehi, it could have been Levi Colwill, but we went for then. He has been impressive in training, very vocal. It is as if it is his 50th cap, not his first.”
Guehi's relegation Most surprising decision by Tuchel so far
It is important that Tuchel discussed Burn's communication and leadership skills. That is something the German has asked more of in this English team, and perhaps it may not be one of Guehi's strengths. He is a calmer, soft form of influence on his teammates – which is certainly more in accordance with the character of Southgate than that of Tuchel.
But anyway, Guehi's relegation of the first choice of England is perhaps the most surprising and decisive decision that has so far been made in the new Tuchel era.
When it comes to club form, this season's Premier League statistics would suggest that Guehi is the best-performing all-round English defender. He is far ahead for winning possession – 118 times compared to his nearest rival, Colwill, who has 87 – what Tuchel has said, is a priority for this English team.
Guehi is at the top of a distance for the number of successful tackles also-48 this season, with Colwill his closest competitor at 34. And Guehi is jointly a top burn for the number of duels won (142).
Harry Maguire has made more interceptions – 35 compared to Guehi's 21 – and Burn, not surprising, has won more air duels – 101 versus 62. But the palace defender is a top top with Colwill for Blocks (21). And on the other side of the field, Guehi has had more target involvement (5) than all his rivals – the nearest are John Stones and Colwill, both with two.
It is made very clear that Tuchel has only received one target through his FA bosses, and that he is determined in his desire to win the World Cup. His wilting criticism of the English side of Southgate – who, according to him, was more afraid of losing than enthusiastic to win – is a good example. Such as his question about the current players of England to be more critical about each other, to “dig each other” as the captain said, both on and outside the field. Tuchel will be ruthless if he pursues his goal, and he doesn't want a Mister-Mister-Nice-Guy from his players either.
You would expect Tuchel to make changes to his starting XI on Monday evening to Latvia, which will almost certainly see changes in the broad attacking areas of the field and perhaps also contains defensive tweaks.
But the first team selection from Tuchel should be seen as a marker for the manager's mindset; The cornerstone with which all other team selections are compared. Burn is the current medal winner; Guehi is sensationally left in the barracks. But you suspect that there will be further soil damage, because Tuchel's mission for world management pace collects.
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