Born in the local maternity hospital in Irvine, North Ayrshire, but brought up in Cumnock,[REF] he is the grandson of the late Mick Morran, who served Ayrshire Junior side Glenafton Athletic as physiotherapist for thirty-five years.
Burns played for a number of youth teams, including the same Ayr Valspar Boys Club side as Scottish international defender Kirk Broadfoot.