Dan Burn stood in the bowels of Wembley stadium and shook his head as he tried to process what had unfolded in the space of just three days.
The Blyth lad has gone from pushing trolleys to make extra cash at Asda to playing for non-league Darlington to Brighton via Birmingham, Wigan and Fulham to playing for his boyhood heroes Newcastle United. Only last month, Burn told me he'd given up on an England call-up because he felt he was being overlooked.
Yet the 6ft 7in warrior found himself checking the number of Thomas Tuchel after believing a WhatsApp message was a wind-up by team-mates. After a few calls it was confirmed that the new England manager had indeed named him the squads for the Albania and Latvia games.
And that was BEFORE Burn made Wembley history by becoming the first Newcastle player to find the net at the famous stadium in 25 years. Rob Lee's header at the same end of the ground against Chelsea in an FA Cup semi-final defeat had been all Newcastle fans had to hang their hats on until the moment Burn struck.
The defender changed that with a stretch of the neck muscles to send the ball flying into the Liverpool net. In doing so he wrote himself into Geordie folklore in the space of seconds.
Burn said: "I've had worse weeks. I don't want to go to sleep because I feel like I'm dreaming and it's all going to be a lie. When I got the message from the England manager I thought it was a wind-up. I had to go away and check it was legit! But it was fantastic and now I can't wait."
At 32, not many players get an England call-up but Tuchel has already spoken about Burn potentially heading to the World Cup in the US, Mexico and Canada next year. He's be 34 by then given there are two birthdays in the pipeline before the next major tournament.
However, the truth is, Burn is good enough. Once rejected by Newcastle as a kid on trial, Burn went away and worked hard to climb back up the ladder. That hard work has paid off. He is an inspiration to any young kid who either wants to make it in the game or the player that thinks his chance has passed him by.
Burn has the determination that could see him yet star for Tuchel's side next summer for the greatest show on earth. Through it all the ex-Darlo star has the respect of his team-mates.
Joelinton said: "I'm really pleased. Dan is a top guy and everyone loves him. He works so hard every day and he's a Geordie, he's born there and loves the club.
"What history to be the guy who scored the first goal, man of the match, he's immense. He played so good and what a week it's been for him. I'm really happy for him to get the goal today, to get in the national team. He deserves everything because he's a top guy and works so hard."
But Burn has not only the respect of the dressing room, he also has the respect of the Press box too. Ex-Republic of Ireland international right-back John Anderson has watched every single game Burn has played in his BBC commentary role since his £13m switch from Brighton in 2021.
Anderson said: "He's worked so hard to get to the top so to finally break into the England squad is full credit to him. It is deserved and will do his confidence a world of good."
That much is definitely true because right now Blyth's battler Burn must feel a million dollars. As he headed on to the team bus with a medal around his neck, he admitted: "I feel really strange - I feel numb. I don't have any emotion. It is strange because I am wanting to feel something, it just won't sink in. Hopefully, it will.
"I am just very, very proud to be from Newcastle and be part of this team. I have said it before it would have been a real shame not to have won something with this team. To do it we had to put on a perfect performance against Liverpool."
"I thought we saw the game out so well. It would not be a Newcastle performance without making it nervous. We had to do our bit there. But I thought even the lads that came on were brilliant. The amount of work the staff put in for our game plan, a lot of the time when we stick to the game we do well so a lot of credit goes to them especially the gaffer."
"I never ever wanted to say it, but 70 years felt like a bit of a burden. That pressure on having to be that team to break that ceiling. We know that we can do it. Hopefully, that is the first of many.
"Since the owners have come in and the manager came in we have made a big thing about winning trophies. And I think that gives us confidence now to want to do more."
Newcastle United Carabao Cup WINNERS 2024/25
At last, Newcastle have their hands on silverware!
After an agonising 56-year wait, the Magpies' amazing army of fans can celebrate watching their side lift a trophy after their Carabao Cup final win. And to celebrate, the Newcastle Chronicle have produced this souvenir special, marking the Wembley triumph.
It is packed full of reaction, analysis and quotes as well as amazing pictures from the day, and a centre-spread poster.
It is the perfect souvenir of an historic day for Newcastle.
Buy now and have it delivered directly to your door. Alternatively you can purchase in most supermarkets, high street retailers and independent newsagents in the North East from March 20, 2025.
