On 21 January 2007 Burns scored Adelaide United's first ever hat trick during a match against Central Coast Mariners, giving his side a 2nd-place finish on the league table to close out the 2nd A-League season.

After his great season with Adelaide United, Norwegian champions SK Brann invited Burns for a 10-day trial where he would train with fellow Socceroo Michael Thwaite.

[7] Burns was on loan with Australian side Newcastle Jets in the A-League from 25 July 2013 until 11 January 2014, playing 12 games and scoring a brace.

Following speculation of Burns returning to the A-League following the end of his contract at FC Tokyo, he stayed in Japan, joining Sanfrecce Hiroshima on 13 July 2017.

[15] Burns came on as a substitute in the opening game in Melbourne of the 2015 AFC Asian Cup against Kuwait, and was twice denied a goal, the first when his shot hit the crossbar, and the second when the goalkeeper made a brilliant save.

On 17 January 2015, Burns made his first start for the Socceroos since 2011, when he lined up for the final group game of the 2015 AFC Asian Cup for Australia against South Korea.