A burning question for Nathan and the Socceroos

What does Nathan Burns have to do to win a recall to the Socceroos?

So far this season he has bagged seven goals in eight games for Wellington. Three of those came in last weekend’s 5-1 demolition of Melbourne City.

At the moment he sits on top of the A-League goal-scoring charts, one above Andy Keogh and Henrique. It’s early days of course but he is the only Aussie to have scored more than three in the opening rounds of the competition.

Not only is he scoring freely, the forward is also setting them up for others. He’s so far picked up two assists to go with his seven strikes. He’s on fire for the Phoenix.

You could say it’s been a long-time coming for Burns, who has endured a difficult spell since leaving Adelaide United back in 2008.

The kid from country NSW burst on to the A-League scene in 2006-2007, with six goals from 21 appearances.

An AIS graduate and Joey, here was a youngster with pace, skill and an eye for goal. He played for the Young Socceroos and Olyroos, and got his first Socceroo cap in 2007 at the age of just 19.

Burns was tagged as Australia’s next big thing, as the new Harry Kewell or Mark Viduka. Something that’s been a poisoned chalice for many.

His time in the A-League was cut short when he joined AEK Athens in Greece in 2008 on a four-year deal. Unfortunately the move did not go to plan.

He made just five appearances in his first season but fared better in 2009-2010, scoring eight in 31 games on loan for Kerkyra in the Greek second division.

Burns went back to AEK for the 2010-2011 campaign and was in and out of the team, recording one goal in 21 appearances. The next season was no better, with one goal in 11 matches. He did manage a few matches for the Socceroos though, with a handful in 2010 and some at the 2011 Asian Cup as a 22-year old sub.

Struggling for game-time, Burns left the Greek club to join Incheon in the K-League in January 2012.

But Korea wouldn’t be a happy hunting ground for the young striker either. In 18 months there he made just a few appearances as he picked up a knee injury and then couldn’t make the team after the coach Huh Jung-moo was sacked.

Burns returned to Australian shores last season when played 12 games for the Newcastle Jets on loan, scoring two goals. It wasn’t the lively attacker at his very best, but he did start to show flashes of his potential.

The move to New Zealand this year has certainly agreed with him. Injury-free, he is flourishing at the Cake Tin and started to live up to the huge hype he was saddled with as a youngster.

With his ability to play on the wings or in a central role, the ability to both score and create as either a number 9 or 10, Burns is proving a valuable asset.

So can make a return to the Socceroos?

We are in dire need of goal-scorers. Burns might have been in the wilderness for a few years but he is only 26, has been in the national set-up before and knows Ange Postecoglou, after working with him with the Under-17s and Under-20s nearly a decade ago.

Australia’s squad is looking fairly predictable for the Asian Cup. With 23 spots up for grabs, it is likely that Postecoglou will go for three or four forwards with some midfielders who can also play in attacking roles.

In the World Cup he went for Tim Cahill, Adam Taggart, Matthew Leckie and Ben Halloran as forwards, with Dario Vidosic and James Troisi classed as midfielders.

Cahill is a certainty for the Asian Cup, as is Leckie and the fit again Robbie Kruse, while Taggart hasn’t played a game of football since the match against Spain and Halloran has been on the fringes since Brazil.

Tomi Juric is likely to replace Taggart, making four. Depending on the formation he employs, Postecoglou could go with another forward and take one less midfielder.

Is Burns worth a shot?

Josh Kennedy hasn’t been getting any game-time in Japan, neither has Eli Babalj in Holland. Bruce Djite has been in and out of the A-League with Adelaide, while Nikita Rukavstsya has only recently returned.

Burns is the only one in great form, playing and scoring regularly.

He’s had his fare shair of bumps and twists in his career but he now seems happy and healthy, and really enjoying his football. I spoke to him in July, and then again in November, and he struck me as someone who is relaxed and comfortable. Not bitter about what’s happened in the past, or what might have been, or taking anything for granted, but just enjoying the here and now.

We saw what a teenage Burns could do in the Asian Cup four years ago. Maybe it’s time to see what an older, wiser adult Burns can do in this Asian Cup coming up.

Follow John Davidson on Twitter @johnnyddavidson