Dan Burn is part of the leadership group at Newcastle United, and that group grew at the start of the 2024/25 season.
There were major changes behind the scenes at Newcastle United in the summer of 2024, and that is before you even consider the arrival of Paul Mitchell and the departures of Mehrdad Ghodoussi and Amanda Staveley.
With Matt Ritchie released, two players were added to the Magpies’ leadership group to replace him. One of them was Bruno Guimaraes after he was named Newcastle United captain, and the other was Jacob Murphy.
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Dan Burn explains why Jacob Murphy joined Newcastle United’s leadership group
The addition of Murphy came as a surprise to supporters, and now Dan Burn has explained why the wide midfielder was added to the group during an appearance on the High Performance podcast.
“There’s me, Kieran Trippier, Jamaal Lascelles, Bruno, Jacob Murphy and Callum Wilson [in the leadership group],” he said.
“When I came there was a leadership group, then the gaffer put me into it. Sometimes we will vote people to go into it, like Jacob Murphy. We had a vote earlier this year on who we thought should go into it and he went in, which is nice when you’re voted in by your peers.”
Burn was then asked by Jake Humphrey why Murphy had been chosen to join the leadership group.
“It’s the same sort of thing, setting standards and the way he goes about daily life in training,” he said.
“People look up to that. Similar sort of thing. He wasn’t playing regularly for a while, and then this season he has been on fire. That’s no fluke. The stuff he does in and around training, and after training.
“You could see it touched him, he was a bit emotional, which is nice to see, especially when you’re voted by your mates. It means a lot. Sometimes you might not see yourself as that, but everybody else does.”
What Jacob Murphy has said about Newcastle possibly replacing him this summer
Murphy is seen as a leader within the Newcastle United squad, while he is also on the back of the best season of his career. The 30-year-old provided 14 assists in all competitions, performing at a level that fans did not know he was capable of.
Despite his impressive performances, Newcastle are in the market for a new right winger. It remains to be seen who will arrive, with Bryan Mbeumo too expensive. In terms of alternatives, Newcastle are interested in Anthony Elanga.
Whoever arrives will threaten Murphy’s place in the starting XI, but his attitude towards a new winger joining the club epitomises why he is part of the leadership group.
“I’ve proved I can contribute to a successful team,” Murphy recently told the Athletic.
“Whatever happens in the summer in terms of incomings, I see that as more competition. It will be someone I can work off, share the load with.
“I won’t stop working hard to achieve success here.”
Murphy’s attitude is exceptional. He has set an extremely high bar for whoever joins the club this summer with the aim of taking his place in Eddie Howe’s starting lineup.
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