Shandon Baptiste says he’s a player with “a lot to prove” but he’s joined a Luton Town side not shy of shooting for promotion and aiming to make a “big statement” tonight against Burnley.
The Clarets won promotion to the Premier League and got relegated at the same time as the Hatters, so they know each other well and it’s one of the toughest possible starts to the campaign for both sides.
Baptiste was Luton’s first summer signing, joining on a free from Brentford, who he won promotion to the top flight with.
But injuries restricted the midfielder to 55 Premier League appearances in the last three seasons, so he’s come to Kenilworth Road with hopefully those issues in the rearview mirror.
“I’ve got a lot to prove,” he told The Lutonian, adding: “I feel like I haven’t played much football over the last year, so I just want to come, play football and show the world what I can do, but especially Luton fans what I can do. If that helps the team then that’s all I want to do.”
Despite relegation last season, there was a huge amount of unity from the terraces to the pitch, with standing ovations from the Hatters faithful, win, lose or draw.
Baptiste said: “For me, this is a club that’s on the rise. Big things are happening here and I feel like, on the outside, you can just tell. There’s a certain feeling about the place.
“For me, when I saw it and heard about the interest, I wanted to come here straight away.
“I’m glad Luton have given me the opportunity to come in and show my skills. I just want to repay everyone with good performances and hopefully we’ll do some big things.”
Asked if the messages during the summer preparations have been about aiming for promotion, Baptiste said: “Yeah, I feel like the gaffer has shown that and we have a great squad here, so why not.
“If we can put in big performances, week in, week out, and stay consistent, why not? Why can’t we go for promotion and go for the league?
“We’re a top club in the Championship so we have to strive for big things.”
With just one appearance in the orange of Luton at Kenilworth Road in last week’s final friendly game against Celta Vigo, it was Baptiste who picked out a wonderful cross for Alfie Doughty to scored.
Both players will be expected to help provide the assists this season, but Baptiste is very enthusiastic about the talent at the top of the pitch.
“Our front three, in Eli (Adebayo), Carlton (Morris) and Chongy (Tahith Chong), you’re probably looking at all Premier League forwards there. So, if we can just give them service, you know they’re going to score.”
But defensive injuries continue to dog Luton from last term, though boss Rob Edwards said Teden Mengi had been training last week after limping out of the Celta Vigo friendly.
“I feel like when it rains, it pours,” said Baptiste, adding: “We’re having a lot of injuries at the back, but the people that have stepped in are doing well. Hopefully we can get people back and soon. I’m sure they will help us to carry on and keep getting better throughout the season.”
But a result against Burnley – who Luton have not beaten in eight league matches, stretching back to 2000 – will go some way to easing the concerns over injuries and the lack of signings in the transfer window with Reuell Walters the only other player brought in alongside Baptiste.
“There’s a buzz around it,” said the midfielder about tonight’s televised curtain-raiser.
“For us, and I’m sure for them, whoever wins the game, or puts in a great performance, it’s going to be a big statement, going forward.
“That’s just what we want to do. If we can put in a big performance and get three points it will set the bar for us and hopefully we can just take that into the next game.
“It’s not about looking at May. It’s about looking Burnley, then Portsmouth and so on.”
And on what could be his first taste of Kenilworth Road under the lights, Baptiste said: “I’m sure it’s going to be jumping. If the fans, which I know they are, going to be with us, it will give us confidence and you’ll see that on the pitch.
“I feel like everyone knows the squad and the players we have here. If we can be consistent and put big performances in, I think big things can happen.
“The fans are a massive part of that, if they can stay with us, which I know they will, I feel like that will just feed into us and that will give us confidence and positivity.”
