BURNLEY boss Brian Laws believes the wrangle over David Nugent’s loan extens-ion from Portsmouth will only serve to fire up the striker for Saturday’s home game against West Ham.

Nugent joined Burnley on loan in August but the initial deal expired last week and Pompey’s financial situation led to complications in the move being extended.

The Clarets thought they had activated the loan extension by formally expressing their wish to keep Nugent until the end of the season but the 24-year-old was called back to Fratton Park and then missed Burnley’s home defeat to Chelsea at the weekend because he was unable to return in time to sign the paperwork.

Nugent, though, was finally able to complete the loan deal on Monday and will now be available for the Clarets when they host West Ham on Saturday.

And Laws thinks the situation will only have fired up his forward, who will be in the shop window for the remaining months of the season as he seeks a permanent move away from cash-strapped Portsmouth.

“It ended up being complicated when the negotiations should have been simple,” said the Clarets boss.

“It has been difficult for him because he’s been from pillar to post.

“But there’s no danger of him losing focus because of it. If anything he will be more focused than ever.

“He could be up for grabs in the summer and he’s got the chance now to play in the Premier League for the rest of the season and show how good a player he is.

“Hopefully he can do that and help to keep us in the Premier League.”

Laws, who tried to sign Nugent from Bury during his time as Scunthorpe boss, has not ruled out making a bid for the striker in the summer and the England international says he would be open to that idea.

“It’s been so confusing but I want to get my head down and concentrate on playing for Burnley,” said Nugent.

“It was hard. I missed the last game because of it. I got called back to Portsmouth then got told to come back to Burnley but didn’t make it in time.

“I missed the game because I had to sign by five o’clock that day (Friday), which didn’t happen.

“I had a few things to discuss at the Portsmouth end and there was some stuff that went on I don’t want to talk about, but it’s all done and I’m glad to be here now.

“I’m just glad that it’s all sorted and I am a Burnley player to the end of the season and hopefully longer.

“I want to get back in the side, start playing well again and score some goals and get Burnley away from the relegation zone.

“When Brian Laws was Scunthorpe manager and I was at Bury he tried to get me down to Scun, so it’s nice he has faith in me and wants to keep me here.

“When a new manager comes in you are always scared you might have to move on but he said from day one he wanted to keep me, which is what I wanted.”

Nugent has only been eligible for two of Laws’ four games in charge so far but started on both occasions and is now keen to play his part in lifting the Clarets out of the relegation zone, despite Burnley’s run of 12 matches without a league win.

“Nobody expected us to win many games but we proved them wrong early on and turned Turf Moor into a little fortress,” said the striker.

“Confidence is flying and the lads are still buzzing. We want to give our all, show the fans that we do care, that we want to stay up and that will all start again on Saturday against West Ham.

“There are about eight teams with about three points between us so if we can get a little run going of hopefully two or three wins hopefully we will be out the relegation zone.

“If I’m playing as a striker I will score goals. I’ve said that all the time I’ve been a footballer and hopefully I will do that.”