*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:34, 24 October 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 09:15, 27 September 2021 (UTC)
Burke was born in Dublin.[1] He was first called up to a first-team matchday squad for Aston Villa's 2–0 home defeat against Bolton Wanderers in the third round of the League Cup on 20 September 2011, remaining an unused substitute.[4] On 18 December he was included in the squad for the first time in the Premier League, again unused in a loss by the same score to Liverpool at Villa Park.[5]
He made his senior debut as a 76th-minute substitute for Chris Herd in Villa's 3–0 home win over Tranmere Rovers in the second round of the League Cup on 28 August 2012.[6] Burke was the joint top scorer in the 2012–13 NextGen Series under-19 club tournament, scoring both of Aston Villa's goals in the final which they won.[7]
Burke joined Notts County of the same league on an emergency loan on 26 March 2015 until the end of the season.[12] Despite not scoring in his first six matches for the club Burke did make two assists in an important 2–1 win against Doncaster Rovers in the penultimate match of the season on 25 April, keeping County just above the relegation zone.[13] Eight days later in the final game of the season, he scored his first league goal, opening the scoring away to Gillingham, but three late goals by the hosts relegated County to League Two.[14]
Shamrock Rovers
On 15 February 2017, Burke signed for his hometown club Shamrock Rovers, being described by manager Stephen Bradley as an "exciting talent".[15] He made his debut for the club in a 2–1 defeat to Dundalk on 24 February 2017, scoring his side's only goal before being sent off two minutes later after receiving a straight red card following a foul on Dundalk player Jamie McGrath.[16]
In March 2018, Burke scored four goals in one game against Derry City to become the first Rovers player in over 25 years to achieve such a feat and was later named SSE Airtricity/Soccer Writers' Association of Ireland Player of the month for March.[17]
On 31 July 2019, Burke re-joined Shamrock Rovers on a one-year loan.[20]
In February 2020 Burke scored five goals against Cork City [21]
It was announced on 1 August 2020 that Burke's loan had been extended until the summer of 2021.[22] On 15 March 2021, Shamrock Rovers announced that Burke had signed a pre-contract with the club, with a 3 year permanent contract at the club set to begin on 30 June 2021, when his loan move from Preston North End officially ended.[23] He scored a penalty against ŠK Slovan Bratislava in UEFA Champions League first qualifying round, but Rovers were eliminated 3-2 on aggregate.[24]
European goals
Burke is Rovers’ all-time top goalscorer in European competition.[25]
Burke has represented the Republic of Ireland from under-17 to under-21 level. In May 2018, Burke received his first call-up to the senior team for a trio of friendlies during May/June 2018.[33] He made a substitute appearance for a Republic of Ireland XI against Celtic in Scott Brown's testimonial match on 20 May 2018. On 28 May 2018, Burke made his full senior international debut for the Republic of Ireland national team in a friendly game against France at the Stade De France when he came on in the 70th minute as a substitute.[34]
Burke scored his first international goal for the Republic of Ireland on 2 June 2018 as Ireland beat the United States 2–1 in Dublin. In doing so, he became the first home-based Irish international goalscorer since April 1978 when Ray Treacy, also of Shamrock Rovers, scored for the Republic of Ireland against Turkey.[35]
His third cap came in a friendly in Poland on 11 September 2018.[36]