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| Burns first hope is to remain fit. Credit: Supplied. |
“It’s good to be back in Australia, being around the boys. There’s a good environment in the changeroom and not too many ego’s,” he said.
The attacking midfielder / winger adds experience to a
youthful Jets lineup and will provide a spark in the attacking third for a side
which struggled for goals last season.
After enduring a tough 12 months in Korea where he only played three games due to a serious knee injury, Burns admitted he was keen to come home in order to get regular first team football.
“Basically I wanted to get out of Korea, I was pretty keen to come back,” he said.
“The Jets were basically the first team to approach me while I was back, they just showed interest and we said to them it’s going to be a challenge getting me here with my club.
“But they were willing to work for it. So, to just pick one team, one place where I would be happy and Newcastle was definitely my first choice.
"It was a no brainer to come here and I think I’ve made the right choice.”
Burns first burst onto the Australian football scene in 2006 after debuting with Adelaide United in the A-League as an 18 year-old.
After lighting up the competition with some dazzling performances with the Reds including the clubs first hat-trick in the competition, Burns earned a call-up to the Socceroos in just his second season with the club.
His remarkable rise in the A-League inevitably caught the attention of a number of clubs in Europe and he secured a four year deal with Greek powerhouse AEK Athens in 2008.
Many players strive to play football in Europe and Burns is no different but he remains philosophical about the timing of the transfer so early in his career.
“I didn’t really understand the step I took, you know being so young and naïve, I think you kind of get pumped a little bit too much here with the media when you’re young,” he said.
“When I went to AEK it was probably too big of a step between the A-League and playing in a Europa League team, so it took a couple of years to adjust.
But when I got into the starting lineup and developed as a player, it was fantastic.”
Burns struggled to make an immediate impact with AEK and his playing time was restricted as he found his feet in Greece.
After realizing he needed to prove himself to his club, Burns took matters into his own hands and requested a loan deal to Greek second division club Kerkyra in order to play regular football.
Although admitting that it was a serious risk on his behalf, he believes it ultimately worked out and helped him grow as a player.
“It was really good because of the game time I got and the way the team was, it was just great for my development,” he said.
“Sometimes you’ve got to go backwards to go forwards. It was a gamble, sometimes they don’t pay off, but the next year I was straight back into the AEK team.”
Burns netted 10 goals in 56 appearances in his stint with AEK Athens and Kerkrya, highlighted with a strike in AEK's 3-1 Europa League win over Austrian side SK Sturm Graz.
Although his move to Greece was hailed as a career defining move for one of Australia’s brightest young talents, Burns’ has effectively slipped off the radar of Socceroos selectors in recent times.
His last match for the Australian national team was back in 2011 (he has seven caps) and a lack of football has not helped his cause.
The financial crisis to hit Greece in 2012 prompted Burns to reassess his playing options and although he had discussions with A-League clubs, he eventually joined Incheon United.
Excited by a new challenge and the opportunity to play regular first team football, Burns was cruelled by a serious knee injury effectively ruling him out for the K-League season.
“I had a bad stint, got a knee injury and was out for 10 months. It was basically too far back to climb, once you get injured like that… it’s hard being a marquee because there’s only three in each team,” he said.
“The coach was disappointed and it affects the team a lot too because they rely so much on their foreign players. So it was a long road back.”
But despite the setback, Burns believed his time in Korea was a valuable learning experience and steeled him to become a better player.
“If you can play in Korea I feel you can play anywhere because I find it harder than Europe,” he said.
“In Europe you need to do well in the game and you hold your spot for the next game, whereas in Korea it’s all about the next training session.
“Every day you had to come prepared and focused and it was high intensity every day and every session.”
He believes his switch to the Jets provides an opportunity to gain some much needed continuity with his football and work within an environment which he knows well.
The opportunity to play alongside seasoned veterans and fellow attackers Michael Bridges and Emile Heskey was something which attracted him to the Jets.
“To come back with Bridgey and Emile up front it helps my game and learn so much off them, obviously I looked up to those two when I was growing up as well,” Burns said.
“Seeing Bridgey and Em the way they work off the field, how professional they are, its good.”
With an abundance of attacking talent within the Jets lineup Burns is acutely aware that he will need to perform in order to retain his spot.
Although his preferred position is the playmaker or ‘number 10’ role, Burns’ is poised to play in a wider role with the Jets to accommodate Bridges and Heskey.
But Burns believes his game is versatile enough to play out wide and his focus is primarily on doing a job for the team.
“If I play number 10 or if I play out wide its not really a big difference,” he said.
“I’m normally a winger that comes inside, it’s a really a similar role.”
Burns’ immediate goal is to remain fit and ensuring he continues to play regular football and regain some confidence after a tough period in his career.
“If you’re getting minutes and game time, I don’t doubt I will get plenty of chances,” he said.
“The goals and assists will come, so I just want to focus on the other things like staying fit and working hard at training.”
Burns’ still harbors ambitions to return to the Socceroos set up, but recognises there is a long road to get back into contention.
But a standout A-League season could propel him back into the mix, especially given the lack of form players within the Socceroos team.
“It would be great to back in the Socceroos because that’s what you play for, that’s the highest level,” he said.
“I try not to focus on the Socceroos because you know you get too far ahead of yourself and it’s really picked on form basis,” he said.
Socceroos fans will be hoping Burns can rediscover his best form with the Jets this season - there are few more gifted Australian footballers running around.
After enduring a tough 12 months in Korea where he only played three games due to a serious knee injury, Burns admitted he was keen to come home in order to get regular first team football.
“Basically I wanted to get out of Korea, I was pretty keen to come back,” he said.
“The Jets were basically the first team to approach me while I was back, they just showed interest and we said to them it’s going to be a challenge getting me here with my club.
“But they were willing to work for it. So, to just pick one team, one place where I would be happy and Newcastle was definitely my first choice.
"It was a no brainer to come here and I think I’ve made the right choice.”
Burns first burst onto the Australian football scene in 2006 after debuting with Adelaide United in the A-League as an 18 year-old.
After lighting up the competition with some dazzling performances with the Reds including the clubs first hat-trick in the competition, Burns earned a call-up to the Socceroos in just his second season with the club.
His remarkable rise in the A-League inevitably caught the attention of a number of clubs in Europe and he secured a four year deal with Greek powerhouse AEK Athens in 2008.
Many players strive to play football in Europe and Burns is no different but he remains philosophical about the timing of the transfer so early in his career.
“I didn’t really understand the step I took, you know being so young and naïve, I think you kind of get pumped a little bit too much here with the media when you’re young,” he said.
“When I went to AEK it was probably too big of a step between the A-League and playing in a Europa League team, so it took a couple of years to adjust.
But when I got into the starting lineup and developed as a player, it was fantastic.”
Burns struggled to make an immediate impact with AEK and his playing time was restricted as he found his feet in Greece.
After realizing he needed to prove himself to his club, Burns took matters into his own hands and requested a loan deal to Greek second division club Kerkyra in order to play regular football.
Although admitting that it was a serious risk on his behalf, he believes it ultimately worked out and helped him grow as a player.
“It was really good because of the game time I got and the way the team was, it was just great for my development,” he said.
“Sometimes you’ve got to go backwards to go forwards. It was a gamble, sometimes they don’t pay off, but the next year I was straight back into the AEK team.”
Burns netted 10 goals in 56 appearances in his stint with AEK Athens and Kerkrya, highlighted with a strike in AEK's 3-1 Europa League win over Austrian side SK Sturm Graz.
Although his move to Greece was hailed as a career defining move for one of Australia’s brightest young talents, Burns’ has effectively slipped off the radar of Socceroos selectors in recent times.
His last match for the Australian national team was back in 2011 (he has seven caps) and a lack of football has not helped his cause.
The financial crisis to hit Greece in 2012 prompted Burns to reassess his playing options and although he had discussions with A-League clubs, he eventually joined Incheon United.
Excited by a new challenge and the opportunity to play regular first team football, Burns was cruelled by a serious knee injury effectively ruling him out for the K-League season.
“I had a bad stint, got a knee injury and was out for 10 months. It was basically too far back to climb, once you get injured like that… it’s hard being a marquee because there’s only three in each team,” he said.
“The coach was disappointed and it affects the team a lot too because they rely so much on their foreign players. So it was a long road back.”
But despite the setback, Burns believed his time in Korea was a valuable learning experience and steeled him to become a better player.
“If you can play in Korea I feel you can play anywhere because I find it harder than Europe,” he said.
“In Europe you need to do well in the game and you hold your spot for the next game, whereas in Korea it’s all about the next training session.
“Every day you had to come prepared and focused and it was high intensity every day and every session.”
He believes his switch to the Jets provides an opportunity to gain some much needed continuity with his football and work within an environment which he knows well.
The opportunity to play alongside seasoned veterans and fellow attackers Michael Bridges and Emile Heskey was something which attracted him to the Jets.
“To come back with Bridgey and Emile up front it helps my game and learn so much off them, obviously I looked up to those two when I was growing up as well,” Burns said.
“Seeing Bridgey and Em the way they work off the field, how professional they are, its good.”
With an abundance of attacking talent within the Jets lineup Burns is acutely aware that he will need to perform in order to retain his spot.
Although his preferred position is the playmaker or ‘number 10’ role, Burns’ is poised to play in a wider role with the Jets to accommodate Bridges and Heskey.
But Burns believes his game is versatile enough to play out wide and his focus is primarily on doing a job for the team.
“If I play number 10 or if I play out wide its not really a big difference,” he said.
“I’m normally a winger that comes inside, it’s a really a similar role.”
Burns’ immediate goal is to remain fit and ensuring he continues to play regular football and regain some confidence after a tough period in his career.
“If you’re getting minutes and game time, I don’t doubt I will get plenty of chances,” he said.
“The goals and assists will come, so I just want to focus on the other things like staying fit and working hard at training.”
Burns’ still harbors ambitions to return to the Socceroos set up, but recognises there is a long road to get back into contention.
But a standout A-League season could propel him back into the mix, especially given the lack of form players within the Socceroos team.
“It would be great to back in the Socceroos because that’s what you play for, that’s the highest level,” he said.
“I try not to focus on the Socceroos because you know you get too far ahead of yourself and it’s really picked on form basis,” he said.
Socceroos fans will be hoping Burns can rediscover his best form with the Jets this season - there are few more gifted Australian footballers running around.