Dan Burn sets record straight on £100m trio Bamba, Toure and Steur

Dan Burn has urged Newcastle United supporters to remain patient with summer signings Aladji Bamba, Bazoumana Toure and Sean Steur, insisting the young trio need time to adapt to life in the Premier League.

All three have struggled for regular opportunities under Matthias Jaissle, especially Bamba, but the Newcastle captain is convinced we have signed three players who can become excellent additions to the squad.

Burn’s message to Newcastle fans

Burn believes supporters need to recognise the challenges facing young players who have moved to a new country and league, with the defender stressing the importance of giving them time and support.

“When you move to a new country, a new league, away from your family, it takes time to adapt. 

"We’re playing at a Premier League level where maybe you don’t have that time but that’s the reality. It’s 18, 19, 20-year-old kids, you can’t expect them just to jump in and go. It’s about us supporting them.

“As the weeks go by, we’re getting more and more from them. The manager has said himself a lot of the lads aren’t finished articles but you see glimpses of them and it’s just about being able to do that on a consistent level.

“That takes time but I have no doubt we’ve signed some very good players and they will be great players for Newcastle.”

Burn also acknowledged the frustration among supporters following our recent performances, particularly after almost 8,000 Newcastle fans travelled to Everton for Thursday’s Carabao Cup defeat.

“I don’t think it’s all doom and gloom. I can understand frustrations, especially when 8,000 Geordies are there. I understand it, but I do think there are positives to take from what we’ve done. I’m looking forward to Monday and putting those wrongs right.”

Summer signings struggling for minutes

There is little doubt that Bamba, Toure and Steur have found regular first-team football difficult to come by in recent weeks.

Bamba, who arrived from Monaco in the summer, has played just 27 minutes in total since joining Newcastle and has not made it off the bench since representing France Under-21s during the recent international break. Jaissle insists he is progressing behind the scenes, but his lack of minutes is a concern for the £35m fee paid. 

Toure has only racked up 115 minutes of league action, failing to start any of our eight league games so far this season following his £42m switch from Hoffenheim.

Steur has also seen his opportunities restricted, with the 18-year-old Dutchman making just two brief substitute appearances since the international break. That is despite impressing during his previous start against Hull City, with his introduction during Thursday’s 3-1 defeat at Everton even greeted by sarcastic cheers from some travelling supporters questioning why he has not been used more regularly.

Jaissle has previously pointed towards the competition for places in midfield, with Nico Gonzalez, Joelinton, Jacob Ramsey and Joe Willock among the options available to him.

The manager has also stressed that Bamba and Steur are adapting to the physical demands of English football, while Harvey Barnes' form has limited Toure's minutes on the left wing. 

Burn’s comments offer a reminder that all three players are still young and adjusting to a new environment. There will understandably be a desire to see more from two expensive summer additions, but Newcastle will hope patience now brings greater rewards further down the line, especially with the trio costing almost £100m combined this summer.