Luton host Derby County tomorrow in their first home Championship game of the season, coming off the back of an opening day victory at Barnsley last week, sandwiched between two Carabao Cup triumphs over Norwich and Reading.
Here’s the rundown of the big talking points and what Nathan Jones said in his pre-match press conference.
Luton now have fullbacks that can replace James Justin and Jack Stacey after signing James Bree from Aston Villa and Rhys Norrington Davies on loan from Sheffield United.
Jones said: “I think it’s the strongest squad that we’ve had. We bemoaned the fact that we lost two excellent, top, top full backs, but I think we’ve replaced those now, only time will tell how good they can be, but we feel that we’re covered in all areas.
“We felt that we missed the attacking threat of Jack and James before, but now we feel we’ve got that back with the two we signed, so we feel this is the strongest squad that we’ve ever had, it really is and we’re very pleased.
“(We’re) still looking to add if we can, but very happy with the place where everyone is.
“We always look in that position and it’s been very difficult to get real good, attacking full backs that can defend, that are athletic and have quality, so when you get them you can nurture them and you look after them, and we have, we believe, two excellent ones.
“We’ve always been blessed with good full backs here, with (Dan) Potts, the two we just mentioned, even Stephen O’Donnell who was very attack-minded and has gone on to have a good career.
“We’ve always had decent full backs here and we’re pleased that we have another two plus the ones that are already here with Peter (Kioso) and Pottsy.”
That could mean Peter Kioso goes out on loan
Jones said: “We like him here, it’s just he’s got some very good ones in front of him at the minute.
“It’s either he continues his development here within our environment or he gets that (elsewhere). One way or another he has to be tested.
“Now, if he’s not getting enough game time here, then it will be a loan, but whatever happens, he’s getting tested here, he’s getting better and he works so hard, wants to do well and we’re pleased with him.”
Dan Potts won’t be available for a while
Jones said: “He’s a few weeks off. It’s just a slow one really. He cracked a bone and it’s taken a little bit longer than we would have liked, but you can’t rush that.
“We would like him back as soon as possible, to provide the competition in that area, as that’s probably the only area at the minute that we don’t have that real cover and competition.”
There will be some old faces, new faces and a very famous face when Derby roll into town.
Asked if he knew much about new Rams signing Kamil Jozwiak, Jones said: “Not at this point but he will be (known) by the time we play them. I’ll know as much as I possibly can.”
Talking of former Luton striker Jack Marriott, Jones said: “It will be nice if he doesn’t score. It won’t be great if he scores but it’s always nice to see Jack. Jack did very well for us here and we evolved, carried on evolving and Jack was one that moved on and it was a good deal for the club. It enabled us to bring in the likes of Elliot Lee and James Collins so it was a good deal for us and we wish Jack all the best, apart from two games this season.”
And facing England and Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney is one of the reasons why Luton wanted to get to, and stay in, the Championship.
Jones: “We’ve just said to the players that we never look too far ahead but these are the games you want to play. Derby have been a Premier League club, then next we play Man United and then we play Watford, three huge games but what a week.
“What a week to be a Luton Town player and test yourself, whether that’s against Wayne Rooney, Jack Marriott, Matt Clarke, whoever it is. To have those tests is what you want, this is why we wanted to get to this league so we could do that before trying to go again.
“It is a good thing for them to play against Wayne Rooney but they have to relish that because Wayne has been a legend for the game. England, Man United, top scorer, a wonderful career and it will be great to test ourselves against that.”
Jones has some experiencing of pitting his wits against Derby boss Phillip Cocu, but he knows all about Rams coach Liam Rosenior from his Brighton days.
Jones said: “I didn’t play against him (Cocu), our paths didn’t cross that way! Managed against him last year, one of his first games was against us at Stoke. We drew 2-2, a real good game. We missed good chances, conceded in the first minutes, which was symptomatic of us then. (It was) a wonderful football game and I expect that again.
“I know Liam very well. Liam was a player there (Brighton), a very diligent player, important member of the squad. He played a lot of games, had a fantastic career and knew he always wanted to take that next step and, he’s embarking on an another set of pathways now in media and with coaching and I wish him all the best.”
