Former Luton Town defender Curtis Davies and his Sky Sports presenting pal Jobi McAnuff have backed the Hatters to win the League One title this season.
Davies came through the Luton academy ranks, making his debut in 2003 and played more than 50 times for Town before moving to then Premier League club West Bromwich Albion in 2005.
The 40-year-old was on punditry duties at The Hawthorns on the final day of last season as the Hatters slumped to a 5-3 defeat that saw them relegated from the Championship.
Pre-season preparations are now underway for Luton’s first season in League One since 2019. Earlier in the summer they were the bookies favourites for an immediate return to the second tier and now the Football League presenting pair have backed Town for the title.
Predicting the title winners, Davies picked the Hatters, saying: “I’d expect them, if they retain most of their squad, to be there or thereabouts.”
Town are now in Slovenia on a pre-season camp, having beaten Borehamwood 3-0 in their opening summer friendly fixture on Saturday.
Earlier that day, Luton announced the signing of 17-year-old Jake Richards from Exeter, who is their third signing of the summer, though Thelo Aasgaard exited Kenilworth Road on the same day, joining Rangers in the Scottish Premiership, just half a year after joining Town from Wigan.
But despite a transfer window, which has seen more exits than incomings — with top scorer Carlton Morris moving to Derby and number one goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski joining Charlton along with Reece Burke and the out of contract Amari’i Bell — McAnuff believes Luton have the know-how to bounce back to the Championship.
“My favourites to win the league are going to be Luton Town,” he said, adding: “[They were] really unlucky to get relegated right on the last day, last year. I think Matt Bloomfield, his experience at this level, will get them going.”
Last season, Town were also a number of pundits’ picks to return to the Premier League after their relegation, also on the final day of the 2023/24 season.
Instead, Town struggled from the very first game of the season, losing 4-1 at home to fellow promotion favourites Burnley and ended the campaign suffering back-to-back relegations.
Luton will open the League One campaign on Friday August 1, at home to newly promoted AFC Wimbledon.
