Newcastle United could soon face another major leadership decision as uncertainty continues around Bruno Guimaraes and his proposed move to Arsenal.
Should the Brazil international leave St. James’ Park, Chronicle Live columnist John Gibson believes Dan Burn is the clear choice to inherit the captaincy.
“Should Bruno leave Newcastle United, then there is only one man to wear the black armband,” Gibson wrote.
Burn’s connection to the club and region is at the heart of Gibson’s case. The Blyth-born defender
has become a fan favorite since joining Newcastle at the end of January 2022, and he has also strengthened his reputation through his performances for England before and at the World Cup.
“If Bruno got what Newcastle and their fans are all about then Big Dan certainly does,” Gibson wrote. “He’s one of us for goodness sake.”
Gibson dismissed several other potential candidates, such as Joelinton, Sven Botman and Malick Thiaw, claiming that they are not “natural leader of men,” while saying Fabian Schar “will not play enough games to justify the honour.”
The pundit also ruled out Lewis Hall and Lewis Miley for now, labeling them as “too young” and “not ready” for the role.
“A team’s captain is not just a caller of the coin,” Gibson wrote. “He need not necessarily be the club’s best player but he has to inspire those around him, either by word of mouth or by deed.”
Burn has appeared in 193 games for Newcastle, scoring 10 goals and assisting on 10 more. He’s racked up 15,939 minutes of playing time for the Magpies, and including this summer participation at the World Cup, he’s logged 10 caps with England’s senior team.
