Burns has joined Newcastle on a season-long loan from Scottish club Hearts.

With Jets coach Ernie Merrick and CEO Lawrie McKinna both Scots, the pair had been keeping an eye on the 20-year-old fullback who was looking for regular senior football.

"I had offers in England and Scotland, but it probably would have been a step back," Burns told FTBL.

"I was looking at options abroad and people from Australia contacted Hearts. Obviously the Jets have a Scottish CEO and manager, so I don’t know if it was through their Scottish links, I’m not sure.

"But soon after I got a couple of offers from abroad, in Europe as well, and then the offer from Australia came. And I spoken to the Jets and they were really keen to have me.

"I spoke to a couple of people I know, the likes of Aaron Hughes who was Melboune City, he spoke quite highly of the A-League. I just thought it was a great challenge, both for the football and on a personal level, I thought it would be a great opportunity.

"Australia is a country I’ve always admired from afar, I know quite a few people travelling here. Things just clicked into place at the right time."

At Hearts Burns played alongside Australians Oliver Bozanic, Ben Garrucio and Ryan Edwards.

The trio helped convince him of the merits of a stint in the A-League.

"They were like my agents!" Burns laughed.

"They helped me quite a lot. Lawrie actually rang Oli Bozanic to get a report on me. He must have said all the good things and left out all the bad, haha. The next thing I knew there was an offer. All three of them spoke very highly of the league.

"It’s a good league. I think it’s a level where if I do really well this season, come back to Hearts and I will be in a good position to fight for my place. It’s a good opportunity to prove myself at this level."