Jordan Clark breaking his jaw and facing some time on the sidelines has not changed the way Luton are approaching the last week of the transfer window, says manager Jack Wilshere.
The midfielder was stretchered off in the early stages of Saturday’s 2-2 draw against Notts County, and take to hospital where he underwent surgery.
With an injury to Jayden Luker two weeks earlier and Shandon Baptiste net yet advanced enough in his recovery from a long term injury, it leaves Luton lighter in central midfield.
Wilshere expects increased activity in the closing days before Tuesday’s transfer deadline, and there have been reports that the Hatters are trying to sign Barnsley’s Luca Connell, who they were linked with last season.
Talking of the possibility of looking for cover for Clark: “I don’t think it changes because we always knew that we wanted Kasey [Palmer], we wanted Clicker and Walshie to stay.
“But we also knew that we have to have some cover for them as well. So it doesn’t change. That’s been the focus throughout the whole window.
“I’ve always said that we won’t just take anyone, want someone that can compete with them to play and come in and play and make the team better at times. So it doesn’t change that.”
Talking about Baptiste, Wilshere said: “Shandon is still a little while away and I think that’s OK. We have to give him time. He’s been through a tough time mentally, but also physically he’s missed a lot.
“He’s been back on the pitch with the physios for a while. He’ll then transition into working with the performance team, then transition into training, which would take a period of time.
“We knew about that as well, so it doesn’t change anything.”
Sverre Sandal will be in contention for the squad to face Premier League Chelsea in tomorrow’s Carabao Cup clash at Stamford Bridge.
Wilshere said: “Sverre, when he came in, it was difficult for him. He had an injury that lasted longer than anyone expected, which straight away, put him on the back foot a little bit.
“Then he started to train and he started to get fit and he came into a period where there was a lot of games or training time with the squad is reduced.
“Also, within that time, the team was doing really well. The midfield was working really well. It was a nice balance in there.
“And we tried to fit him in where we could, bring him off the bench now and then. And I felt at times he struggled a little bit to get up to the pace of League One.
“And we always knew with Sverre that the pre-season is going to be really, really important for him to be with the group, to find his rhythm at the same pace as everyone else, to get the game time that he needed to get up to speed. And also develop to what we want.
“So yeah, he’s definitely getting closer. He gives us something different. He’s probably different to any other midfielder we’ve got in terms of the strengths and what you can bring to the team.
“He’s working and he’s working hard and it’s not always been easy for him and I respect that as well. He’s getting closer.”
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