Joe Cole stunned, Alan Shearer on his feet after Newcastle United's Dan Burn scores 'exquisite' curling header - 'Bend it like Burn!'

Newcastle United took on Athletic Club at St James' Park in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday, and took an early lead thanks to Dan Burn's peach of a header, which received much praise from the TNT Sports panel. Steve McManaman, Joe Cole, Joe Hart and Shay Given were left stunned by the finish as Burn met a Kieran Trippier cross, curling a header into the far corner of the net.

Burn gives Newcastle lead with Shearer-esque header - ‘Won’t see many better than that!’

Video credit: TNT Sports

TNT Sports expert Joe Cole was left marvelling at Dan Burn's stunning opener for Newcastle United against Athletic Club in the UEFA Champions League, which led him to remark: "That's one of the best headers I've ever seen."

Burn came in unmarked from the left-hand edge of the penalty box to meet Kieran Trippier’s cross, which arrived from around 50 yards out, somehow working an angle to send a stunning header curling past Unai Simon and in, clipping the right post.

"Trippier’s ball in, and Burn was arriving! You won’t see too many better headers than that," exclaimed commentator Adam Summerton on TNT Sports.

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"That is absolutely brilliant from Dan Burn and Newcastle lead with just over ten minutes gone at a raucous St James’ Park."

Co-commentator Steve McManaman said it was a brilliantly worked move from Eddie Howe’s team.

"Play to your strengths and that's certainly one of them," he said. "Set move, Dan Burn round the back and nobody followed him.

It was a goal so sweet that the TNT Sports cameras had to catch Alan Shearer - Newcastle's all-time leading goalscorer - warmly applauding the defender; a header that he would surely be proud to have on his own highlight reel.

"What a header, it was exquisite. Nobody follows him, glorious isolation.

"But the hard part was getting that header on target, bending it into the far corner. Absolutely beautiful.

"Eyes on the prize, helps it into the corner with the pace of that Trippier cross. But what on earth is Navarro doing? One minute, he's with him, next minute he's 20 yards away from Dan Burn as he scores."

Speaking after the match, Burn told TNT Sports: "I've been due one for a while and the ball came in and I decided to head it as hard as I could. Luckily it went in the far corner.

"We've been working on that, we knew we'd have a bit of space. Sometimes that one in 100 goes in, but I'll take that. It was a good header. I'll be straight on my phone to have a look now."

TNT Sports pundit Joe Cole was blown away by the finish from the big centre half, saying it was unlike anything he had ever seen before.

"I don't think I've seen a bullet header with spin on it," he said. "That's one of the best headers I've ever seen.

Burn on remarkable header: One out of 100 attempts that goes in

Video credit: TNT Sports

"Dan Burn just ran through it. He's got a sizeable head on him as well, so it went off at a velocity, it was brilliant."

Joe Hart, watching as part of TNT Sports' Goals Show Xtra panel, added: "Big Dan Burn, he's seen it all the way. We saw his movement, he peeled off and once it left his head, he was already celebrating. He knew it was unstoppable.

"That's a special header. You'll talk about the high line but that's a rare header to score at that angle, at that pace from that distance. That is perfect on to his head."

Former Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given, meanwhile, could not believe what he was watching as Burn planted the ball into the net.

"Look at that header," Given said. "Wow. Bend it like Burn! Watch this for swaz.

"I don't think we'll see a better header ever in the Champions League. He's curled it into the corner with his head. A fantastic celebration as well."

Burn’s effort gave Newcastle the lead in the 11th minute of the match, with Joelinton's second-half strike forming a two-goal cushion as Newcastle claimed their third win of the Champions League campaign thus far.

Highlights: Remarkable Burn header guides Newcastle past Athletic Club

Video credit: TNT Sports

The TNT Sports panel compared Burn’s goal to the one he scored in Newcastle’s Carabao Cup final victory against Liverpool last season.

It was also a Trippier cross on that occasion, but Burn met the ball on the other side of the box at Wembley to put the ball past Caoimhin Kelleher to give Newcastle the lead.

Howe’s side went on to win that match at Wembley - the club’s first trophy in 70 years.

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