Town striker Burns bids to hit the ground running

Burns spent the first half of the season on loan from Bristol City at Aberdeen, scoring in his first game when they beat Ventspils 3-0 in a Europa League qualifier.

After that debut goal the 22-year-old did not manage to net another goal north of the border and returned to City in January before securing a big money switch to Highbury.

The forward had netted five times in a 14-game three month loan spell at the end of the 2015/16 campaign to help Fleetwood stay in League One.

But, after returning to help Uwe Rosler’s rejuvenated Town side’s battle at the right end of the table, Burns’ comeback was hampered by an ankle injury that saw him sidelined for two months after the 0-0 draw with Rochdale in February.

Burns is currently one of four strikers in Rosler’s ranks but with David Ball out of contract, yet to sign a fresh deal and with a number of other League One clubs reportedly interested, a forward will presumably be at the top of Town’s shopping list this summer.

And Burns says the security of his long-term deal will give him the ability to improve and strengthen his game for the new season in August as he bids to end his goal drought.

He said: “Having the long security contract really does give me time to knuckle down and work on my weaknesses and strengthen my strengths.

“A long contract is good for me because I can just knuckle down and concentrate on my football.”