Luton manager Rob Edwards has given an update on Joe Taylor, Louie Watson and John McAtee amid rumours of possible recalls from their current loan clubs during this transfer window.
Striker Taylor, who was a VAR check away from scoring the winning gaol in the Championship play-off final, has had a successful spell at League Two Colchester United, firing in 12 goals in 27 games.
But the 21-year-old is expected to be recalled and sent to another side higher up the Football League with Bolton Wanderers, Town’s FA Cup third round opponents this weekend, one of the clubs in League Two that could be a likely destination.
Edwards said: “Joe’s gone and done really well. I think more with become clear over the next few days. I don’t think anything is finalised as yet, so we’ll see.
“We’re assessing a lot of the lads that have been out on loan and just making sure that we get the right thing for them.
“Joes’ had a successful spell, hasn’t he? So, understandably, when someone’s on loan, a young player, does well, especially goalscorers, there’s always going to be a few rumours knocking about.
“There has been one or two people enquiring about him which, again, is understandable, but we’ll do what we think is the right thing for him.”
Taylor’s goal haul is also thought to have caught the attention of Wycombe Wanderers and Oxford United and Edwards said of the impression the striker has made: “We thought he could go and do that. That’s why we brought him to the football club. That’s why he came on in the play-off final last year.
“We’ve got real high hopes for Joe and it’s a good first half of the season and we want that to carry on in his development because, long-term, we see him being here with us.”
Despite playing 21 times this term, midfielder Watson has recently had to make do with a spell on the substitute’s bench at Charlton Athletic, with some suggestion that his loan season could be cut short.
Edwards said: “Louie’s had decent minutes, a lot of them have been in the cup as well. He’s performed well on lots of occasions, Louis. It’s a big football club that he’s gone to, so it’s always going to be competitive.
“No-one’s got a god-given right to start the games, but we’ll have a look at it with every player and make sure that they’re getting the right thing.
“But football is tough and it’s competitive. Sometimes you’ve got to fight and get in the team. That’s what we ask the lads here. When you go on loan, you go with a view to play, but it’s not that simple.
“You’ve got to earn it and he has done well, but it’s a big football club and minutes can be difficult and those big football clubs.”
Elsewhere, Town striker John McAtee has been in sparkling form for League One Barnsley, scoring nine times in 22 matches, with his spell at Oakwell expected to last for the duration of the season.
“He’s another player that we’ve got high hopes for at this football club,” said Edwards, adding: “He’s gone and had a really successful first half of the season, but we think he’s in a really place at the moment and we don’t see too much change in his situation.”
