Newcastle boss Eddie Howe says Dan Burn retains his confidence.
Burn has bee hit by a form slump in recent games.
But Howe said today: "I understand it happens. Everyone has an opinion. Dan has been such a big player for us. He's pivotal to how we play in lots of different ways.
"That's why he was such a big miss when we lost him to injury. He's also a huge leader in the group. A very big presence. He's been an incredible signing for me and much better than I could have hoped. He's still helping galvanise the group. I can't speak highly enough of him."
He also said: "He has to be right up there [as one of best signings]. You have to take yourself back to where we were. Attracting players was incredibly tough [in 2022], so we only wanted players who wanted to come. Dan was desperate to play for Newcastle and has never lost that love and enthusiasm. He's still Newcastle through and through."
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