Eddie Howe’s side go into the summer knowing they will play Champions League football next season after qualifying on the final day.
Newcastle United lost to Everton at St James’ Park, but the ground erupted just a couple of minutes later when they knew Aston Villa had lost to Manchester United and confirmed their place in Europe’s top competition.
Through gritted teeth, Dan Burn thanked Man United for beating Villa and helping them secure Champions League qualification.
Many Newcastle players have been praised for their performances this season, with the likes of Alexander Isak, Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes being recognised as difference makers for the Magpies.
While those Newcastle players soak in the praise, BBC pundit and former footballer Fara Williams has singled out two stars who went completely under the radar this season.
Fara Williams makes Dan Burn claim after Newcastle United success
If you could write a fairytale about a season in football, Burn’s would be the closest thing you would get to one.
Playing for his boyhood club aged 33, scoring in the cup final at Wembley, being called up to the England squad by Thomas Tuchel and qualifying for the Champions League. Nobody could have predicted what Burn has achieved this season.
Burn expects Newcastle to have a big summer, and he is still expected to be an integral part of Howe’s squad next season.
Williams included Burn in her underrated XI for the season thanks to his heroics. Explaining his inclusion to BBC Sport, she said: “There are players around Dan Burn in the Newcastle squad who are more glamorous and will be spoken about far more than he is. But, there are very few, if any, that the fans love more. I think he gets close to a best Premier League XI this season which seems crazy given when many would not have believed he would still even be at the club at this stage in their development.
“Burn knows his role and place in Eddie Howe’s side perfectly and is one of the most consistent and committed performers in the league. He knows his limitations as well so adjusts position to minimise the risk of him being run at with space behind him. His goal in the Carabao Cup final will be one of the defining moments of this English football season for me.”
Earlier in May, Burn signed a new contract at Newcastle to keep him at the club until the end of the 2026/27 campaign. The defender also expressed his desire to end his playing career at the Magpies.
Fara Williams praises Jacob Murphy for Newcastle United heroics
Jacob Murphy has been the biggest surprise for Newcastle this season, his impressive form was completely unpredictable, given that his first few seasons on Tyneside were far from brilliant.
This season, Murphy formed a sensational partnership with Isak, and the pair linked up on multiple occasions to score.
Murphy was snubbed for England by Tuchel, but many believed he should have been given the nod to play for the Three Lions after scoring eight goals and bagging 12 assists in the Premier League alone.
Like Burn, Murphy has also been named in Williams’ underrated XI, where she recalled something she heard Newcastle fans saying about the 30-year-old at the start of the season.
I heard early on this season Newcastle fans on the radio saying Murphy is a player that’s not good enough to play in this team if they are to achieve big things,” she said in the same BBC Sport interview.
“A player of his ability can go one way or the other – they can get found out and struggle to play for the team again or they really lift their levels and show that they have the capabilities to step up into the role.
“Murphy has certainly been able to do that, and the relationship he’s got with Alexander Isak has been one of the reasons why Newcastle have gone on the run that secured a Champions League spot.
“His assist record this year has been seriously impressive, and he’s added some key goals to that as well.”
