'You normally give me 5/10!' – Ratings spark laughs but Dan

DAN Burn admitted he was more than happy to be categorised as the next Paul Dummett when it comes to The Journal's player ratings - and quipped he would take any low marks on the chin.

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The end of Tuesday’s press conference ahead of last night's clash with Bilbao descended into a conversation about player ratings - much to the bemusement of the travelling media. United's star marks slumped on Sunday after the defeat to West Ham, but Burn knows the only way to survive at Newcastle is by being a model of consistency.

Burn was brutally honest about his own display against the Hammers and admitted that the team’s display could not be defended.

It was Dummett who earned a reputation of delivering a 7/10 most weeks - so much so that former coach Ben Dawson even once staged a lecture to Academy youngsters citing the ex-Wales international's consistency.

If anything has caused the odd debate over the years, it’s player ratings, but the format is simple. Have a steady game and you will be on a 7/10, score a goal or assist or two and you are moving up to a 8/10 or 9/10 and get pretty much everything right you will be on a 10/10 - like Burn was at Wembley in the Carabao Cup final.