Donervon Daniels knows Luton’s clean sheet conundrum can’t be down to one man but he wants to help solve the puzzle.
The defender made an impressive Hatters debut in last weekend’s 4-0 FA Cup third round defeat at Bournemouth, having been recalled from his loan at Doncaster Rovers the day before.
The 26-year-old will be hoping his performance – which earned a song from the travelling Town faithful – was enough to make his Championship bow against Birmingham City on Saturday.
As the division’s basement boys, Town need to start picking up points to try to haul themselves out of trouble and, as a new defender in the mix, Daniels will be trying to force his way into a back four that has conceded 56 times this term, only managing one shut-out.
“Clean sheets are tough in any league, wherever you go,” said the former Wigan and Blackpool defender.
“I just want to give my all for the team and, hopefully, by me giving my all, and everybody else, we get more wins and we get more clean sheets.
“It’s a full squad effort to get a clean sheet and to win a game. It’s no one individual. I’m just looking forward to integrating into the group, being my best self and hopefully that contributes to the team doing well.
“I’m looking forward to every game and the challenges. Hopefully I get to keep my spot or be in the team and just take it from there.
“Nobody doesn’t want to be on the pitch. I want to come in and I want be part of it.”
Town boss Graeme Jones has set a survival target of at least 20 points from the remaining 20 games.
“This is the first I’ve heard of it, personally,” said Daniels after his showing at right back in Bournemouth, adding: “But I feel, everybody, as individuals, when you aspire to be the best you can be you set yourself targets, you set yourself goals.
“In the group situation, when you’re fighting for survival, you will set collective goals and if that’s what the gaffer’s set, then that’s what we’ll go on to achieve.”
Daniels is a versatile defender and though he sees himself in a central role, he’s prepared to fill in where needed.
“I’ll play anywhere the gaffer puts me. I just want to be on the pitch,” he said.
“I would say I’m a centre-half, I love it at centre-half because I get to see the game, I get to dictate with the boys around me. I’m a vocal player so I like to communicate, but I’ve played right-back a few times throughout my career.
“I enjoyed it at right-back (against Bournemouth), it was a tough challenge against Premier League opposition and it was good to just be out there and be part of it with the boys, because even though it was a negative result, personally I think I did well and I enjoyed it.
“Obviously, we’ve got a big game coming up this weekend and we’ve just got to put this behind us and work hard in the week and looking forward to the game on Saturday, because we’ve got good players, good fan base and we just want to do each other proud.”
