BRIAN Laws will make his Premier League managerial debut at Old Trafford this afternoon and admitted: ‘It’s a dream start’.

The new Burnley manager’s immediate aim is to address an away run that has yielded only one point from a possible 30.

And while that winless streak threatens to be increased against Manchester United tomorrow, Laws has urged his players to face the reigning champions with no fear.

“I was seriously delighted it was Manchester United,” said the 48-year-old, who was unveiled as Owen Coyle’s successor on Wednesday.

“When you look at it realistically, if the next game had been Portsmouth – and I’m FROM BACK PAGE using Portsmouth as a yardstick – I think that would have been more of a pressure game for me to come into because that’s a must-win game. The games we need to win around us are more important.

“This one is a no-brainer. It’s a great one to go to.

“Nobody expects us to go and get anything other than ourselves and our supporters. That’s why we’re not under that pressure. Any pressure seems to be transferred onto Manchester United. We have already beaten them once – dare we go there and do it again?”

To do so, Laws believes they must strike the right balance between cautious and cavalier.

“There’s a real plus in being cavalier because it shows no fear. I don’t want to stop that and suppress it – there are other trigger points which we can defend a little bit better as a team. That’s something we’ve got to focus more on, particularly away from home,” said the Clarets chief.

“I still want the same approach, I still want the players to go out there and play good football. I don’t want to snuff it out.

“There’s nothing broken here. I’ve told the players we’re not here to all of a sudden revolutionise everything and change everything. I think that would be the worst thing you could ever do.

“They are good players and I wouldn’t want to suppress their confidence or the way they want to approach games.

“I might be putting the reins on a little bit but I won’t be pulling on them too hard. It only needs tweaking here and there.”

Defensive reinforcements are high on Laws’ list of priorities, particularly with captain Steven Caldwell sidelined for at least another week following the recurrence of a groin injury, Andre Bikey on international duty with Cameroon in the African Cup of Nations and Clarke Carlisle a doubt for this afternoon with a thigh problem.

A national newspaper reported the Clarets were ready to smash their £15,000 salary cap to sign Matthew Kilgallon from Sheffield United, but this has been refuted by the club.

“Burnley Football Club can confirm an interest in signing Sheffield United central defender Matthew Kilgallon,” read a statement.

“However, the club is not prepared to meet the agent’s excessive wage demands for his player.

“Contrary to a national newspaper report, the club has no intention of breaking its wage structure and disrupting the togetherness of a united squad.

“Burnley Football Club will instead look elsewhere for reinforcements.”

Laws is also willing to let each member of his squad fight for a place in the side.

“That’s going to be the tight one because we’ve got to make decisions pretty quickly,” he said. “But when a new manager comes in it may spark somebody else to do well. And what better game to go into, because you don't need to be inspired or motivated. The adrenalin will be pumping anyway at United. Whoever hasn’t been in the side and comes in will be absolutely at it, 100 per cent.

“They are, in their own right, good players. They’re not on the Premier League parks for any other reason than they deserve it and, like today in particular, these are the moments that they deserve most.”