For most fans, having to work at 8 a.m. the morning after their favorite club wins its first trophy in 56 years would be a disappointment. But Dan Burn isn’t like most fans.

Just two days after receiving his first England call-up, the 32-year-old lifelong Newcastle supporter made history by scoring the opening goal in the Magpies’ 2-1 victory over Liverpool at Wembley, securing the Carabao Cup.

Burn was at the heart of the celebrations. Newcastle manager Eddie Howe entered the press room still reeking of beer, admitting he had been drenched by Joelinton and the rest of the squad. But the focus quickly shifted to Burn—the local lad from Blyth—who didn’t join his boyhood club until the age of 29. Now, for the first time in his career, he will report for England duty on Monday morning.

His powerful header from Kieran Trippier’s corner, struck from around 12 yards out just before halftime, was a stunning moment. It marked Newcastle’s first goal in a cup final since 1976. Their second came in the second half from Alexander Isak, before Federico Chiesa pulled one back late for Liverpool.

"What an incredible few days for Dan," said Howe. "His performance today was immense. We've been working on those corners tirelessly for two weeks, and he delivered. It was an unbelievable header, and it couldn’t have been more fitting."

Speaking to Sky Sports, Burn admitted: "I've had worse weeks. I don't want to go to sleep because it feels like a dream—I’m afraid I'll wake up and none of this will be real. I don’t score many, so I saved it for a big occasion. Right now, I feel strange, almost numb."

He added with a smile: "I’ll be the first one at England training tomorrow at 8 a.m."

Liverpool manager Arne Slot was asked how the 6ft 7in Burn had managed to find so much space for his header. His response was telling:

"We have five players covering the goal zone, our strongest in aerial duels. Normally, a player runs into that zone, but I’ve never seen anyone score from that far out with such force. That goal happens maybe once in a hundred times. Credit to him—he's one of the few who could pull it off."

Breaking the Curse

Newcastle fans have long felt cursed, having last won silverware in the 1969 Inter-City Fairs Cup and a domestic trophy in the 1955 FA Cup. Since then, 30 different English clubs have lifted major trophies.

The Magpies lost the FA Cup finals in 1998 and 1999, then fell short in the 2023 Carabao Cup final against Manchester United.

For Howe, though, the idea of a curse never existed.

"With such a long wait for a trophy, I know this moment will never be forgotten," he said. "There are many ways to win, but this was the best way—beating the best team in the Premier League and proving we were the better side."

Reflecting on Newcastle’s loss in the 2023 final, Howe admitted: "The first time we reached Wembley, it was very emotional. You could feel it in the players and the fans, and I don’t think it helped us. This time, we focused on treating it like a Premier League match, minimizing distractions."

Newcastle, currently sixth in the league, were deserving winners, though Liverpool’s late goal made for a tense finish.

"It was tough when they scored," Howe admitted. "I was already thinking about extra time. We always make things difficult for ourselves—it was never going to be a straightforward 2-0."

As for celebrations? Howe gave his players full permission to enjoy the moment.

"I told them not to be too professional tonight—just enjoy it and forget about tomorrow for now."

With this victory, Howe became the first English manager to win a major domestic trophy since Harry Redknapp’s FA Cup triumph with Portsmouth in 2008.