Eddie Howe recently spoke about how the success of his back four made life difficult to make any major changes to his defensive rearguard.
United have looked so good at the back at times, fans even produced a banner of Nick Pope, Kieran Trippier, Fabian Schar, Sven Botman and Dan Burn all celebrating together after a victory in the early part of the season. That's not bad going for a team who had to effectively switch a centre-back to left-back as far back as the first handful of games.
With eight games to go, Howe must decide whether to stick or twist at the back. The most pressing decision appears to be the return to full fitness of Matt Targett.
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A straight switch for Burn is the choice of some fans but even against Villa in a 3-0 defeat, the Geordie defender made some key contributions. A couple of blocks and interceptions and the usual aerial wins came from Burn at Villa Park.
Breaking up the understanding after one loss in six matches also has spats of hitting the panic button from Howe, so there is a good chance that Targett remains on the bench against Tottenham Hotspur this weekend. Targett's story of the season has been one of frustration suffering a niggling injury away to Brighton & Hove Albion that led to the loss of his first-team spot to Burn in the first place, before picking up a heel bone injury that cost him 12 matches in all competitions.
Going forward Targett offers more of an outlet than Burn in the eyes of some observers where as the Blyth lad is sturdy and dependable. Are one's strengths the weaknesses of the other, that's for Howe to decide and he's got the majority of tough calls spot on this season.
Changing the defence with eight games to go would be one of those tough calls, after all, it is the back five that made their way on to a Wor Flags banner that have guided Newcastle to the brink of Champions League qualification. Burn hasn't just kept Targett out of the side this season either.
At the start of the season in an open training session in front of the watching media amid the backdrops of the Austrian Alps, Howe described Burn as one of his "leaders" and even in the presence of Trippier and Jamaal Lascelles, the former Brighton star quickly resolved a spat that bubbled over during a pre-match practice session. Burn has been one of the main spokesmen of the team this season in mixed zones and is regarded by backroom staff as captain material.
The fact that Northern Ireland left-back Jamal Lewis can't get near a start in the Premier League and long-serving defender Paul Dummett has also failed to start in the top-flight, shows just how much Howe rates Burn. Howe has been known to spring a surprise in games, against Tottenham there will be a keen eye on any tweak to his defensive line-up.
