BRIAN Jensen has hit out at former Burnley boss Brian Laws over the way he lost his place to Lee Grant in the Clarets line-up.

Jensen last week agreed to withdraw his transfer request after talks with new Clarets manager Eddie Howe, but he remains angry with Laws over the manner in which Grant replaced him in the team.

The goalkeeper was out of contract last June but signed a new two-year deal at Turf Moor, only to find himself on the bench three months into the season as Grant was signed from Laws’ former club Sheffield Wednesday in late summer and then impressed in the Carling Cup.

Jensen, 35, felt his performances had not warranted his omission and asked to be put on the transfer list in December. Laws departed as manager less than a fortnight later.

The Dane has now decided to withdraw his request to leave after receiving assurances from Howe and said: “I think it was the right thing to do when I spoke to the new gaffer.

“It’s not his fault I went on the transfer list in the first place.

“It wasn’t because I spat my dummy out and didn’t want to fight for anything. It was just the circumstances of how it happened.

“Now it’s 50/50 again and it’s fair and square. I will have as big a chance to get into the side as Granty staying in the side.

“That’s what I’m going for because it’s always worked for me in the past. I’m definitely going to try to get back in the side.

“But if it doesn’t work out unfortunately I may have to look somewhere else.

“To be fair to the old gaffer, he said that he wanted to bring someone in but the circumstances of how it happened and what happened after that was way out of control. I was not happy about it and that was the reason.

“You need to strengthen your squad and to have a lot of players to fight for places. I don’t have a problem with that whatsoever.

“People who know me, I’ve been here a long time, know I’m not that kind of person.”

And, despite withdrawing his transfer request, Jensen says he may still have to reluctantly end his eight-year spell at Turf Moor if he cannot force his way back into the team.

“I’m 35, I don’t have the time behind me,” he said.

“If I’m not happy and if I have to go somewhere else, that’s the way football goes.

“But short term I’m going to fight for it and do my very best to get back into the side.

“But in the past I’ve always had a little bit of time and been ready to fight for it and had time to get back into the side. I don’t feel I have that any more.

“It’s important for me to play ASAP and if it’s not possible I have to do what’s best for me and for my family.”

Burnley are still waiting to find out how long Martin Paterson will be on the sidelines. The striker visited a specialist yesterday after suffering what appeared to be a recurrence of a niggling thigh injury in the 1-0 loss at Doncaster on Tuesday.

The date for the Clarets’ FA Cup fifth-round trip to West Ham United is yet to be confirmed - with Saturday, Sunday and Monday all possible on the weekend of February 19 to 21.