Newcastle Star Dan Burn Issues Positive Injury Update As Eddie Howe Battling Crisis

Newcastle United defender Dan Burn has offered a positive injury update as he nears a return from a lengthy lay-off. 

Thirty-three-year-old centre-half Burn has not played since suffering a brutal rib injury in last month’s Tyne-Wear derby defeat against Sunderland.

Burn broke his ribs and punctured a lung in the 1-0 loss at the Stadium of Light.

In a dreadful month for Newcastle in terms of injuries, he remains sidelined for now.

Joining him on the treatment table are fellow defenders Tino Livramento (hamstring) and Fabian Schar (ankle).

As a result of Newcastle’s injury crisis, the Magpies have been left with just four senior defenders available in recent weeks.

Lewis Hall, Kieran Trippier, Malick Thiaw and Sven Botman are the only options manager Eddie Howe has been able to choose lately.

But they will soon have one more senior player back, with Dan Burn nearing a return.

Dan Burn Issues Positive Injury Update

Speaking to Sky Sports, Burn said he was “a couple of weeks” away from returning to action.

He admitted his rib injury was the “most pain” he has experienced, with the defender left bed-bound for several days.

“I am good. My lung is all right, the rib will be a couple more weeks,” said Burn.

“But I am feeling a lot better than I was a few weeks ago.

“It is the most pain I have ever been in and I was lying in bed for about three days but it got better pretty quickly.”

“It’s the most pain I’ve ever been in.”

Dan Burn gives a fitness update and says he will be ready to play again soon! ⏳ pic.twitter.com/wAcGJCf8sK

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) January 13, 2026

But although two weeks isn’t far away, Newcastle’s busy fixture schedule means Burn will still miss a number of games.

They have five games remaining in January, including a brutal three-game run of Aston Villa, Paris Saint-German and Liverpool over seven days.

Eddie Howe Admits Newcastle Injury Crisis Stretching Resources

Tuesday’s EFL Cup semi-final first leg saw Newcastle beaten 2-0 at home by Manchester City.

Asked about his side’s injury problems after the game, Newcastle boss Howe admitted the situation was far from ideal.

“It’s not the situation we want to be in,” said Howe.

“We’ve tried to rotate healthily. We can’t afford to lose anyone else.

“Defensively, we are really stretched. We are pinning our hopes on Dan Burn being back pretty soon.

Eddie Howe on tonight’s defeat at St. James’ Park ️ pic.twitter.com/SnJxokQppO

— Newcastle United (@NUFC) January 13, 2026

“That would give us a massive lift. And, of course, the transfer window is also available to us.

“Tino’s [Livramento] information , we only got confirmation this morning, so we need to digest that and then see what we do.”

Given Newcastle’s problems, there is plenty of reason to suspect they may look to the January transfer market for reinforcements.

The club have already opened talks with key man Bruno Guimaraes over a new contract, but it’s at the back where they are really struggling for bodies.

Signing defenders may not grab the headlines like tying down a star attacker, but it could prove pivotal in helping Newcastle manage this difficult period.