Newcastle boss Eddie Howe says Dan Burn's January arrival is already proving great business.
The Blyth-born defender was released by the Magpies as an 11-year-old, but has worked his way back to Tyneside via Darlington, Fulham, Wigan and Brighton, who reluctantly sold him for £13million in January.
Burn may not have been the highest-profile signing of the winter window as the club's new Saudi-backed owners flexed their financial muscle for the first time – England full-back Kieran Tripper and £35million Brazil midfielder Bruno Guimaraes perhaps caught the eye more – but his performances since have won him new admirers as well as impressing existing fans.
Head coach and former Bournemouth manager Howe said: “Dan is someone that I've liked for many, many years.
“Every time we played Brighton, regardless of his position – because it did change whether they played a back four or a back five, he was sometimes centre-half, wing-back, left-back in a four – he gave us problems, whether it be his physicality or his technical ability.
“He's someone that we've really, really liked and I like him even more now for having worked with him because you then see the person behind the player as well – and what a guy.
“He's come in very calmly and brought a leadership to the group. But also behind that, you know how much it means to him to play for Newcastle, having supported them as a kid and gone to games with his dad.
“Having been through that experience, it means the world to him to play for this club, so it's been a brilliant transfer for us so far and for him."
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