Amari’i Bell has signed a new Luton contact to play in the Premier League and admits winning promotion is still giving him “butterflies” over a month since the play-off final victory.
The defender is away on international duty with Jamaica in the Gold Cup, but when he returns he’ll be preparing to defend against the likes of Manchester City’s Erling Harland and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah.
“It’s an opportunity that everyone wants to take, and I can’t wait for it,” said Bell, who was transformed last season from a left back into a centre half.
“It was just a matter of time, but I’m so happy to get it done and now all I can think about is coming back and getting ready for the season ahead.”
Town’s first game in the top flight for 31 years will be away at Brighton and Hove Albion on August 12 and Bell told Luton’s website: “The excitement, I don’t think words can describe it. I think all the boys were waiting for the fixture list to come out and when we saw it, the achievement sinks in.
“It’s definitely an opportunity that I’m going to grasp with both hands and make it count. We can all have a huge sense of pride that we’ve achieved something like this in our career.
“Making my debut for Jamaica was amazing, but without the fans there it was dimmed down a little, so Wembley has to be the best moment of my career. That feeling of getting promoted was crazy. Earlier on today I was just looking at the videos and pictures of that moment, and it’s still giving me butterflies a month on.”
Bell was carried off on a stretcher in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with USA, but the injury is not serious Bell is hoping to play a part in the match against Trinidad & Tobago tomorrow.
