The England squad for their upcoming games against North Macedonia and Malta in the European Championships qualifiers is official. There are some surprise inclusions – but we feel one Newcastle United player is unlucky to have missed out.

Dan Burn has had a wonderful campaign for the Mags this season. Despite being shunted out wide to assume the fullback role, he has performed above all expectations there.

Despite this, the former Brighton man has not made Southgate’s squad this time around – and we feel that this is a massive shame. Southgate tends to prefer players he is familiar with – his latest squad selection is a testament to this.

Who made the final cut for Newcastle?

Newcastle, for all their successes this season, have just two representatives in the England squad. They are striker Callum Wilson and captain Kieran Trippier.

As well as Dan Burn, Nick Pope and Joe Willock failed to make the final cut. Pope’s disinclusion is understandable – he is currently out with an injury. Willock, meanwhile, has yet to receive a senior team call up for the Three Lions.

Why Dan Burn would be a better option

England, at present, have a very strong team. Players such as Jude Bellingham, Marcus Rashford and Harry Kane come together to create a real force on the international stage. However, there is one position that the Three Lions struggle in – central defence.

Outside of John Stones and arguably Fikayo Tomori, England have very few quality centre backs. As such, we feel that Burn should be given a chance to see what he can do in an England shirt.

Tyrone Mings and Harry Maguire have both led middling campaigns for Aston Villa and Manchester United, yet they have managed to make the cut. Would Burn be a lesser pick than either of these two?

Additionally, Burn has showcased his adaptability this season, after doing a fine job at left-back for the majority of the campaign. In a 25-man international squad, having players who can cover multiple positions is often a godsend.