JUNIOR Stanislas is revelling in a new chapter on and off the pitch, after his move to Burnley coincided with him becoming a father for the first time.

The 22-year-old celebrated the arrival of twin boys – Alex and Jacob – on Sunday, just four days after finalising his move to Turf Moor.

The winger’s deadline day transfer brought to an end his 12-year association with West Ham, having first arrived at Upton Park as a 10-year-old schoolboy.

But he admitted he wouldn’t have uprooted his new family if he didn’t think he could enjoy his football and be successful with the Clarets.

“The manager has got the boys playing well and I like to keep the ball on the floor and pass it as well rather than the direct style. That’s one of the main reasons I came here,” said Stanislas, who has followed fellow Upton Park exile Zavon Hines to East Lancashire from the capital.

“The lads have made me feel welcome, and obviously I’ve got my friend Zav holding my hand. It’s been quite easy settling in.

“He came up a couple of weeks before me so I’ve been in contact with him and he told me it’s good here, so I was always going to come.

“He said the manager’s terrific and the assistant, and all the boys are really good as well so you can’t ask for much more than that.

“I’ve trained with the lads a few times now, they like to play football and there’s a good team spirit.

“Not only is there good quality in the squad they are good lads as well so hopefully we can get up and out of this league.”

Since West Ham were relegated from the Premier League last season Stanislas has only featured in the Carling Cup for the Hammers.

He admits he has endured a frustrating spell as, after breaking into the first team towards the end of the 2008/09 season, going on to make 26 Premier League appearances the following campaign under Gianfranco Zola, a four-month injury lay-off last season scuppered his chances of working his way into former manager Avram Grant’s plans.

However, he is ready to put all that behind him should he make his Burnley and Championship debut when the Clarets entertain Middlesbrough on Saturday, following the two-week break for internationals.

“I wasn’t playing too much at West Ham so hopefully I’ll get that opportunity here,” he said.

“They were frustrating times but I suppose he (Grant) had to manage the team the way he saw best.

“Obviously I just wanted to play in the team.

“When I do play I know what I can do. It’s a change and a new chapter in life now, but that’s football and these things happen.

“It’s exciting times with the move up here and becoming a father over the weekend to twin boys, Alex and Jacob. It will be good I’m sure.

“The boys were born in London and my girlfriend’s taken them home now, but hopefully they will be here in the next few days.”

Meanwhile, despite not figuring in a league game under new West Ham boss Sam Allardyce, Stanislas had nothing but praise for the former Blackburn Rovers manager.

“I liked him. His style has its critics but as a man and as a manager he was nice,” said the England Under 21 international, who scored his only senior goal last season against Blackburn in a 1-1 draw at Ewood Park.

“He’s straight to the point and straightforward with you. What you see is what you get, he doesn’t tell you any lies.”

Read Willie Irvine's column only in today's Lancashire Telegraph newspaper.