DAN Burn wants to finish his career at Newcastle United after news of his extended contract at St James' Park was made public - and believes his best years could still be ahead him.

Burn was due to be out of contract this summer but it was revealed at the end of last week that he'd triggered an extension in his deal a year or so ago.

The security of a new deal was a relief for Burn but there's no chance the 32-year-old will be sitting back and taking his foot off the gas. He wants to see out his playing days on Tyneside - and is determined to keep his place in the first team for the foreseeable future.

"The contract has been activated quite a while," said Burn.

"For some reason it’s only coming out now. I’ve always said that I want to be here as long as possible so to activate that side of it obviously gives me a bit more security. But I want more and I’d love to be here longer.

"I’d love to finish my career here. I’ve moved home, my kids are back with their family and get to see them a lot, that was always the plan.

"We’ve got very good players here and we are going in that upward trajectory so I’ve just got to try and keep going as long as I can.

"I feel like I’ve been playing well this season. I’m not going to be a player that’s just happy to be here and be a good trainer and sit on the bench - I want to play and believe I’m good enough to play.

"I honestly feel like I’m still getting better and have more improvement to make. I’ve got a load of games under my belt so that experience helps as well.

"I don’t feel as if I’m starting to decline or anything, I’m still fit, healthy and feel I’m playing a big role."

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For all Burn has no intention of hanging up his boots anytime soon, he does have one eye on his longer-term future.

"I’ve started my coaching badges and do little bits of media, little bits to keep me ticking over," said the former Darlington centre-half.

"But I’d love to still be doing something with the club when I’ve finished, whatever that may be.

"The worst thing to do is get to the point where you don’t have football anymore and have nothing to go into, so you always have to have that next plan.

"When you hit 30 everyone says that you’re nearly done, but I’m still enjoying it and have a lot of fight to push the lads and play at this level."

With Burn considering a future in coaching, it's little surprise that he takes every opportunity to pick the brains of his boss Eddie Howe.

"I think that you’ve got to do that anyway," he says.

"I’ve taken little bits off every manager that I’ve ever worked under. There are little bits you like out of everyone so you’ve got to take on all that information."