The Aussie striker's side drew 0-0 with Panetolikos on Sunday to clinch the point needed for automatic promotion to the top flight in Greece.

The former Adelaide United striker was dangerous all day and two good chances before being subbed off late in what was an insipid game.

Burns has spent the season on-loan from Super League club AEK Athens and after eight goals and promotion, it can be considered a successful loan spell.

The former Adelaide United star last played for Australia in 2008. He was also a regular in Graham Arnold's Olyroo side that qualified for Beijing 2008, although was dropped along with Bruce Djite in controversial circumstances with the coach claiming the pair weren't "heat-ready" for Beijing. 

While South Africa would appear a lost cause, 22-year-old Burns hopes for a national team return as a new generation of Socceroos look to make their mark over the next four years. 

"After this World Cup there'll be a massive change, the majority will retire," Burns told au.fourfourtwo.com.

"In Europe not so many of the young players are playing regularly right now and are finding it tough to get game time. So over the next couple of years we need to step up and take the responsibility.

"The Socceroos have been good but they're only as good as their next generation. We need to work hard in Europe to get game time and hopefully fill in those gaps and put the pressure on.

"I think for football to do well in Australia, we need the Socceroos to be doing good and the Socceroos are mainly based in Europe.

"Obviously I'm not involved in the Socceroos now but I have a goal and ambition to be involved in the next couple of years."

Burns has been an ever-present at Corfu this season but has stated he wants a return to AEK next season to continue his four year contract with the club (he's two years into his contract).

"Every club game is going to affect my Socceroos ambitions," he said. "That's why I came here [to Corfu] because I wanted to play.

"Pim made it very clear, if you're not playing it's very difficult to go to the World Cup. Obviously I got game time here and now it's good for my next step and hopefully I can go to the next level.

"We need to be the next generation and the next stars. The problem is, the last generation of Socceroos has probably been the best generation. Ever. In history.

"It's a big responsibility and big shoes to fill. There'll be some big changes. The next World Cup is four years away. Four years in football is a long time. 

"There'll be players in the spotlight we don't even talk about right now, guys like Tommy Oar - they come from nowhere so fast."

Like a number of the Olyroos from 2008, it's been a tough introduction to European football. In Turkey, for instance, Bruce Djite has had an up-and-down start to his Euro career.

 But it's all about the future for Burns.

He added: "I'm working hard. I have a plan over the next couple of years to be a better football player so hopefully I can get my chances and I can be back on the scene sooner rather than later.

"I want to be back in the Socceroos and back in the spotlight."