Graeme Jones has hinted that he may have to adapt Luton’s successful diamond formation after the sale of James Justin and Jack Stacey.
The Town boss will take charge of his first competitive game tomorrow night when Middlesbrough come to Kenilworth Road to kick-start the Championship campaign.
A big feature of the Hatters’ style in their title-winning League One campaign last term was due to the way the two full backs got forward to provide the supply line for the attackers.
Jones has already brought in former Everton left back Brendan Galloway and ex-Middlesbrough man Martin Cranie, while Dan Potts was considered the first choice left back last term until injury gave Justin his chance.
Asked after the 5-1 pre-season defeat to Norwich if he’s still looking to strengthen the full back positions, the Luton chief said: “Absolutely, yeah, but at the minute we’re having to play a different way. We haven’t got James Justin and Jack Stacey anymore.
“I didn’t want to lose them as players but you can’t stand in the way if a Premier League club comes in for them. They’ve earned that right.
“The diamond relies on penetrating full-backs and, forget (Norwich), Dan Potts and Brendan Galloway has been excellent and so has Martin Cranie, we just have to approach it in a different way to what we did last season.”
Speaking to the club’s website yesterday, Jones expanded on his options, saying: “I am not concerned about the right-back area with Martin Cranie playing there. I think Martin, out of everybody, looked fatigued on Friday, maybe it showed a little bit, he is 32 going on 33, but he has been exceptional in pre-season. I have got no worries when it comes to him and performing in that position.
“[It’s not the priority position to fill with a new signing], not with Martin Cranie there. Josh Neufville has done fantastic in pre-season as a young, powerful right-back. We have adjusted his position from right-wing and he’s a tough boy. A strong character. One-v-ones he is as good as I have seen. So it’s an area we are looking at, but it’s not an area I am concerned with.”
