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England’s most dominant aerial defender only has nine fingers — a fact that still surprises many football fans.

The reason Newcastle United and England defender Dan Burn has nine fingers goes back to a serious childhood mishap that occurred when he was 13 years old.

For years, countless Premier League supporters have watched the towering 6ft 7in defender without ever noticing that he is missing the ring finger on his right hand.

Burn spoke at length about the incident during an interview with Sky Sports last year, describing how the accident happened in detail.

According to Burn, the unfortunate event took place while he was spending time with friends as a teenager.

“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 escaped and got into a community centre. So, I jumped the fence, not realising there was a gate around the corner, and I was wearing a ring.”

He continued, “It was a ring my grandad had given me, made from an old shilling, quite solid. When I jumped, the spike caught the ring, and as I came down, it ripped me.”

Initially, Burn didn’t realise how bad the injury was. It was only when he rolled up his sleeve that he saw the full extent of the damage. He was taken to hospital immediately, but doctors were unable to save his finger.

Although the injury never stopped him from rising through the ranks of the Premier League or earning a place in the England national team, Burn admits it has led to some awkward and humorous situations in everyday life.

“I remember when I first started dating my girlfriend, we’d go to McDonald’s. You go through the drive-thru, hand over the money, and when they give the change back, I’d put my hand out — the coins would fall through the gap between the car and the window,” he said. “I’d open the door but couldn’t reach the money, so I’d just have to drive off. So contactless payment was honestly the best thing that ever happened to me.”

Burn made his FIFA World Cup debut as a second-half substitute in the Round of 16, registering six clearances and two blocks to help ten-man England protect a 3-2 lead against co-hosts Mexico.

The 34-year-old was also brought on late in extra time against Norway, using his exceptional height and aerial strength to help England defend their narrow lead and clinch a spot in the semi-finals.