HE might have missed out on a number of central defenders during the transfer window, but Eddie Howe insists he would not swap any of his January targets for Dan Burn.

Newcastle United’s recruitment team began January hoping to sign Sven Botman from Lille, and when their offers for the Dutch centre-half were rejected, they switched their attentions to Sevilla’s Diego Carlos.

Again, they were unable to get a deal for the Brazilian over the line, so in the final few days of the window, they approached Brighton to set up a £13m deal for Burn.

The Blyth-born defender has been a revelation since returning to his home region, and having watched Burn impress once again in Saturday’s 2-1 win over Brighton, Howe was quick to praise highlight the extent of the defender’s impact in the last month, both on and off the pitch.

“I can’t credit Dan enough,” said the Newcastle boss. “I know I keep saying this, but he’s come in and he’s been so good at the training ground. He’s been so good around the group.

“I said when I first came in that the most important people are going to be the people we have in the squad now. What I didn’t want to do is damage that environment because it was very strong. The biggest compliment I can pay the players coming in, like Dan, is that they’ve all enhanced the group, and the spirit is as strong as it’s ever been.

“In all my preparation before signing Dan, leadership was one of the big things that stuck out. When people spoke about him, they always said he was a leader. It’s massively important. Adding people that set the example you want is such a powerful thing.”

Newcastle’s form has been transformed since the turn of the year, with Saturday’s victory lifting the Magpies seven points clear of 18th-placed Burnley, who were thrashed 4-0 by Chelsea at the weekend.

From a position of grave danger, Howe’s side suddenly find themselves ensconced in the relative safety of 14th position, but while their manager is satisfied with his side’s performances in the last month or so, he does not think they are safe yet.

“Do I think we’re well on the way to being safe? No, no I don’t,” he said. “I still think we’re in a relegation battle, and it’s very important the players still feel that too.

“We can’t let up, we can’t stop, we’ve got a really difficult run of games coming up. We’ve got four away games in a row now, which I think for any team in the Premier League would be very difficult.

“They’re four difficult opponents, so today was very important. It’s lifted us in terms of the points, but we haven’t achieved anything.

“I see the players in the dressing room afterwards, and it’s a good sign. They’re pleased, but they’re not over the top in terms of how they’re feeling.

"They know that we’re still in the midst of a very important spell.”