But the main reason the towering Geordie is back to his best, says Eddie Howe, is the fact he’s fully fit again.

Burn endured a run of poor form at the turn of the year, which led to him being left on the bench for the February defeat at Arsenal, but the fact he was off-colour was understandable, says Howe, who revealed the 32-year-old rushed back from a serious injury quicker than he should have done because he was so desperate to help a Newcastle squad that was struggling and down to bare bones at the time.

Only last week, Burn opened up on the injury and what followed. Despite fracturing three bones in his back, he only missed five games, though admits: “I probably came back a little earlier than I should have.”

He said: “Essentially it was a broken back, it was agony and tough, you can’t really run off a broken back.

“I came back within six weeks and wouldn’t have pushed myself through it if I didn’t feel good. I’ll not be the only person who has done that for Newcastle this season.”