Turkey-based Djite said his good mate Burns is now realising why his former coach at Adelaide United Aurelio Vidmar – himself one of the greatest ever Socceroo attacking midfielders – was on at him about improving his final pass.

"I spoke to him [Burns] a couple of days ago. He said he's not getting much game time at the moment at AEK," Djite told au.fourfourtwo.com.

"It's funny, Viddy used to always be on Burnsy's back about his passing… his final passes.

"And now, after being at AEK, Burnsy understands what Viddy was talking about. You just can't get away with that over here."

Burns joined AEK in the off-season on a four year contract. Like Djite, he left Vidmar's Reds just before their run in the Asian Champions League.

But Djite says the move for Burns has been positive as he looks to establish himself in one of Greece's super clubs.

"He says he's improving as a player … and AEK is a massive club," said Burns. "Even in training he's improving and when he feels he needs to get 90 minutes under his belt he gets a run in the reserve side.

"He's going to have to bide his time. I think he realises that and he probably understood that before he left.

"But he's improving there and no doubt he'll take his chance when he gets it."

For Djite, like Burns, he's in a stage of his career where he is still a relative unknown.

And he's quite happy for that as he carves out a career with Turkish Super League side Genclerbirligi – a club he also joined in the off-season from the ACL finalists.

DJite added: "At the moment we're just looking at improving.

"It's not so much about being superstars or having people rave about us for two or three years then falling to pieces.

"It's these small steps that gradually go bigger and bigger for us and let's see where football takes us."

And joining Djite, 21, in southern Europe is fellow fringe Socceroo James Troisi, who recently joined Gencler after leaving England's Newcastle United.

The pair opened their accounts for the club last week with Troisi scoring his first ever senior competitive goal...and Djite says the 20-year-old could become a scourge of Turkish defenders.

"Jimmy's been fantastic," he said. "He's come in and was a little frustrated at the start as he wasn't getting any game time but the boys really have a respect for him.

"They asked me about him before he came and I told them what a fantastic player he was. And he's showing that in the minutes he's been getting on the field and in training.

"It's been an easier transition for him off the field than me as he's brought his family over with him as well. So he has that home lifestyle."

Troisi's mother is Greek and he has an Italian-born father.

"James can become a top player not only in Turkey but in Europe," added Djite of his fellow Aussie who signed a three year deal with the Turks.

However Djite says it's been difficult to catch up with fellow Aussie, Istanbul-based Harry Kewell, as they haven't been in the same city at the same time.

"But I'm sure when he comes to Ankara I'll be able to catch up with him."

After four months in Turkey, Djite says it's been a steep learning curve.

And he describes his coach Mesut Bakkal as slightly different to his former gaffer Vidmar who he describes as a man "who rarely gets his tactics wrong". Djite describes Bakkal as "old fashioned...

"He likes us to fight hard on the pitch and even at training, we all wear shin pads. It's very intense, with tackles flying everywhere.

"It's a lot quicker than I've been used to but after four months, it's starting to feel normal and the training is definitely making me a better footballer."

Djite adds: "We're still young and we've just moved into this world. You see many players who've gone to Europe too early or fallen off the map."