Burns: Jets transformed under 'intense' Robinson

Bobby Burns says the Newcastle Jets have been revitalised by the influence of new head coach Carl Robinson and can make an unlikely push for the A-League finals.

Bobby Burns reacts during a match for the Newcastle Jets Source: Getty Images

Robinson took over Newcastle in February after the sacking of Ernie Merrick.

Under the Welshman the Jets are undefeated in their past six matches, with three victories and three draws.

The Hunter outfit have won their past two games in a row, knocking off Adelaide United 3-0 and upsetting Perth Glory 2-1.

The Jets have risen to ninth spot on the table, six points behind sixth-placed Western United with just six matches left.

Northern Irish utility Burns, who joined Newcastle on loan from Scottish side Hearts last year, puts the turnaround down to the “intense” approach of the 43-year-old ex-Wales international.

“He hasn’t changed too many things. Obviously most of the same coaching staff are still there, but it’s just the different intensity and the winning mentality he has brought in,” the Irishman told The World Game.

“We’ve worked a lot more on our shape and on our conditioning. It’s great. We’ve all been doing a lot of learning.

“It’s intense at times but everyday you go into training and feel like you leave the pitch feeling you’ve improved than what you were before.

“Obviously whenever a new manager comes in it’s great if you can start off with a few good results; it gives you a bit of momentum.”

The Jets have struggled for most of the season but under Robinson they have changed formation from a 4-2-3-1 to a 3-4-1-2, with Burns being deployed in a different position at left wing-back.

The 20-year-old has thrived in his new role and believes four wins from Newcastle’s last six games would prove enough to secure a finals birth.

“I’ve really enjoyed it. It’s been a real good year of learning,” he said.

“It was obviously disappointing at the start of the season, we probably didn’t pick up some of the points we deserved. The injuries have killed us at some points. In key games not having those key players has hurt us.

“But the last two months have been brilliant. The performances have been great and we’ve started to pick up a lot of points and hopefully we can make a late push for the playoffs.

“There’s been a lot of change but it’s been good, I’ve learned a lot from all three different managers so far.

"Carl Robinson the current manager has been great with us. He’s very intense, he does a lot of good coaching with us, plenty of advice.

"I’m just learning and playing a slightly different position in left wing-back.

“It’s been good for me just playing a different style of play that I’m used to back home, where there’s more long balls and physicality.

"Here it’s more tactical, getting the ball down and I’m enjoying that adaption. If we can get four wins we can maybe make the playoffs.

"It’s a bit of a long-shot but we’re just focused on trying to do that.”

Burns has made 15 appearances for Newcastle in the A-League and notched one assist.

The defender has only been loaned to the Jets until the end of the 2019-20 campaign, but admits he is unsure what the future will hold with his parent club Hearts battling relegation in Scotland under their new manager Daniel Stendel.

“I’ve got no idea yet. Obviously I still have a year left on my contract at Hearts, so they want me at the moment, so it’s not really in my hands,” he said.

“But I’ve loved my time out here, I can see myself coming back out in the future – whether it be next season or in five years or 10 years down the line. I definitely wouldn’t rule it out.

“With regards to this summer, I’m just trying to finish the season strong, hopefully I can play well in these last games.

"My main objective is to go back to Hearts – if I can get into the Hearts team then brilliant, my objective overall is to play at the highest level I can, and internationally.

“I think I’m probably more chance of doing that if I’m playing in the Scottish Premiership or in England. But I’ve just got to see what happens now.

“Hearts are in a relegation battle so if they get relegated (I don't know) how would that affect me… there’s a new manager now, different to the one there when I left who was one who kind of liked me and sent me on loan.

“So there’s so many unknowns about if Hearts will stay up, what the new manager thinks of me. I want to go back and try and get into the Hearts team, if that doesn’t work out I would look at other options in the UK and definitely consider Australia again.

“It’s definitely a possibility that I would come back out here as I’ve really enjoyed it and I think the Jets are going to have a good season next year.”