Rob Edwards says he is happy for his Hatters to use their emotions on the pitch in the wake of captain Tom Lockyer’s cardiac arrest, saying it can bring out the best in his players.
Newcastle United are the first visitors to Kenilworth Road today after a traumatic week dealing with the aftermath of the defender’s concerning collapse on the pitch at Bournemouth last Saturday.
Lockyer is now recovering at home after being hospitalised and having an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) fitted to prevent further cardiac arrests, but his recovery will be a long one.
Edwards revealed he has spoken to his players urging them to embody the spirit and attitude of Lockyer as they bid to remain in the Premier League.
He said: “It’s difficult. It is a challenge because I’ve got to be careful with my language. It’s a completely different situation, but when we were coming to the end of last season and big games that meant a lot, I quite liked the players playing with emotion.
“I quite liked them playing with their heart on their sleeve and using that. So I want them to use that emotion. As long as it keeps 11 players on the pitch and it can bring out the best in us, then great.
“We’ve got to try and harness that. But it can be a real fine balance without throwing people over the edge.”
Equally, the club has offered support and counselling to help players and staff to help them deal with the second on-pitch collapse in seven months of their leader.
“Seeing a difficult moment like that could trigger anything,” said Edwards, adding: “So, the players have got a lot of support around them.
“At the moment, I don’t like calling them players. They’re human beings. This is the point. I know football means a lot to all of us, we all love it, but it’s really not that important when we’re talking about these sorts of situations.
“There’s a lot of support around and the players know that and feel it as well.”
Even the reaction of Lockyer himself, Edwards says, has been a benefit to his team-mates, with the manager said of his stricken skipper: “Believe it or not, he was his usual self, joking and talking about doing anything to get out of the Christmas do, and all that sort of stuff. It’s incredible how he’s been throughout this, and I think that’s helped the boys as well.”
And as the football community has rallied around Lockyer and Luton with messages of support, Edwards, who was visibly emotional last Saturday as he applauded all sides of the Vitality Stadium, says he’s been able to draw on support and advice as well.
“The help’s been offered to all of us,” he said, adding: “I know I have all the support mechanisms needed. The LMA (League Manager’s Association) reached out, which was great as well. I’ve had a lot of people that have reached out.
“I’ve had incredible support from everyone around, reaching out to send Tom their best wishes and to me, the team and the staff as well. When the football community comes together like that, it’s pretty special.
“One special mention, and he doesn’t do it for this, but Steve Cooper, with everything he’s had going on this last week (with his sacking this week by Nottingham Forest), he’s been in touch with me every day and I think that just shows the class of the man.”
On the pitch, as well as Lockyer, Town will be without Marvelous Nakamba who was serving a one-match suspension at Bournemouth, but as that game was abandoned the midfielder’s ban carries over to the Newcastle game. Attacker Cauley Woodrow is also now available, as Luton’s squad will be much the same as it was last week.
