Luton boss Rob Edwards has hailed Reece Burke’s “incredible” performance in the play-off final as an example of why the defender was offered a contract extension and has now committed his long-term future to the club.
Having been injured in the run-up to the end-of-campaign Championship tournament, the centre half was fit enough for a place on the bench for the final game of the regular season against his former club Hull, the play-off semi-finals and the Wembley showpiece against Coventry.
He didn’t have to wait long for his introduction in difficult circumstances in the final when Tom Lockyer collapsed and was taken to hospital. His performance at Wembley has been highlighted since, as he helped steady the ship after the loss of Luton’s captain, as Town went on to win 6-5 on penalties to book their place in the Premier League for the first time.
After the defender’s contract extension was confirmed, manager Rob Edwards said: “Let’s start at the play-off final with Burkey, because I thought his mentality to come on so early, in difficult circumstances when Locks went off when he did. To come into that, the biggest game of all of our careers, and perform as he did against really tough opposition, just says everything you need to know about him.
“He’s a brilliant bloke who is another one who is just a bit frustrated because he needs that run of games and then just feels little niggles, but he worked so, so hard to get himself fit for the play-off games. The medical team did brilliant with him to get him right, and he’d have been disappointed not to be playing in the final, but he came on and he was incredible.
“He’s another one, when you think about his goal away at Huddersfield on New Year’s Day, he got three wins in a row for us and it was a really important goal. But his performances, whenever he did play, were excellent. Even in a game we lost, Burnley at home, I thought he was magnificent.
“He’s got energy and from that right-sided position he can be really brave. He’ll bomb on, he’ll overlap, he’ll put crosses in, he’ll be aggressive in defensive situations.
“I think he’s a really good player and a really important player for us, so I’m delighted that he’s agreed a contract extension because when he’s fit, him and Gabe is a right good battle for that position.
“I know now the big thing for him will be consistently staying fit and consistently playing, but I know he’s capable of it.”
