Dan Burn, the towering Newcastle United and England defender, has nine fingers — and for most Premier League fans, that comes as a complete surprise. The 6ft 7in centre-back is missing the ring finger on his right hand, the result of a freak accident that unfolded when he was just 13 years old.

Burn described the incident in vivid detail during an interview with Sky Sports, tracing it back to a youthful moment of bravado that went badly wrong. "I'd been out with some friends, and I was showing off in front of a group of girls," he recalled. "I think a rabbit had got out and got into a community centre. So, I jumped the fence, not knowing there was a gate around the corner, and I was wearing a ring."

The ring in question had belonged to his grandfather — crafted from an old shilling and entirely solid. As Burn leapt from the fence, the metal band snagged on a spike. "It ripped me," he said bluntly.

The moment he realised

At the time, Burn did not immediately grasp how serious the damage was. It was only when he pulled back his sleeve and saw the wound that the full horror became clear. He was taken to hospital, but doctors were unable to save the finger.

Despite losing a digit, the injury has never interrupted his ascent through professional football — from the lower leagues all the way to the Premier League and the England national team. However, Burn has spoken candidly about the occasionally awkward situations it creates in everyday life.

"I remember when I first started going out with my girlfriend, we used to go to McDonald's — you go through the drive-thru, hand over your money, and when they give the change back, I'd put my hand out and the coins would fall between the gap of the car and the window," he said. "I'd open the door but I couldn't get the money back, so I would just have to drive off. Contactless payment was the best thing that ever happened to me."

Burn's impact at the World Cup

The 34-year-old has carried that resilience onto the international stage. Burn made his World Cup debut as a second-half substitute in the Round of 16, producing six clearances and two blocks as ten-man England held on for a 3-2 victory over co-hosts Mexico.

He was called upon again deep into extra time against Norway, using his commanding aerial presence to help England protect a narrow lead and reach the semi-finals.