Burns played for a number of youth teams, including the same Ayr Valspar Boys Club side as Scottish international defender Kirk Broadfoot.
Early in his spell in Dumfries, Burns was a member of the starting eleven that topped the Scottish First Division, the first time Queens had done so in fifty years, thanks to a 3–2 win over Inverness in October 2003.
This goal along with others from Steve Tosh, Sean O'Connor and John Stewart ensured Queen of the South played in their first Scottish Cup final on 24 May 2008 at Hampden Park.
He made his 200th appearance for the side in a Challenge Cup match Dunfermline Athletic on 18 August 2009[6] with his 200th start coming in the same season against Airdrie United on 12 April 2010.
On 4 September 2010 in the 5–0 challenge Cup tie win at Palmerston Park against East Fife Burns scored his first ever hat trick.
[8] On 31 May 2011 it was announced that Burns had left Queen of the South and joined Dunfermline Athletic on a Bosman free transfer, signing a two-year contract.
[11] Burns returned to Queen of the South after negotiating his release from Dunfermline Athletic on 31 August 2012, signing a one-year deal with the option of another year.
[12] Burns joined the game as a second-half substitute in a 2–2 draw and was given the captain's armband as well as a guard of honour by his teammates when leaving the field after the final whistle.