But he has assured the hugely talented wide man he is a big fan of the 24-year-old, and he will have a major part to play as the Clarets look to stave off relegation.

Eagles started the season on the bench, but his impact as a substitute, notably against Sunderland and Blackburn, earned a first start against Wigan, and he had started the last 16 games before the weekend.

However, as Laws starts to tweak the style and shape of the side, he is met with the conundrum of making the side more solid, while retaining that attacking flair.

And with West Ham playing a narrow midfield, with Julian Faubert bombing on down the right from full back, Laws went with Robbie Blake and Wade Elliott in the wide positions, utilising the pace and overlapping qualities of debutant Danny Fox and Tyrone Mears.

Asked whether it was a tough decision to leave out Eagles, arguably the side's stand-out player of late, Laws said: "Absolutely. Every decision we make is a tough one.

"Chris hasn't done anything wrong, I just think the gameplan, with how West Ham were going to play, suited the players better than Chris.

"He'll be disappointed, I'd be very disappointed if he wasn't, however, justification is winning the game."

Laws insists it is very much a case of horses for courses as he looks for the results to keep the Clarets in the top flight: "It's not just about leaving Chris out, it's about doing things right and, going into the next game, it could be someone else who is left out, even though we won the game.

"We've got to take each game on it's own merits.

"Players don't like being left out of the side, but you have to do what you have to do.

"They are uncomfortable decisions, but you have to make them.

"Chris is a good player, no question about it, and he'll find himself back in the team sooner rather than later, so he's got nothing to worry about.

"He's a fans' favourite, and we know what he's capable of.

"Just this particular game I felt suited someone else."

Laws has wrestled with Burnley's propensity for open, expansive football, while noting a need for more organisation and discipline, and he added: "We knew what was at stake when we came into the job, and I couldn't have asked for a worse start with Manchester United, Chelsea, but there were elements within those games that we were developing and improving, becoming much more solid.

"The way the team had been playing was very cavalier, very open, and it looks pleasing to the eye, but you're 2-0 down.

"To add that little bit of shape and knowledge has helped them, and now we've got that result under our belt now we can march on and go to Fulham believing we can get a result there.

"We said these five games will be the turning point, which direction are we going in?

"We've got a win in the first one, and it's onwards and upwards.

"We believe this is the start of our season."