Luton boss Nathan Jones says the return of football today can give fans something to focus on and act as a positive after three months dealing with the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic.
The Hatters will host Preston North End at 3pm, 105 days after their last Championship match, the 0-0 draw at Wigan.
However, with social distancing measures still in place no fans will be permitted in Kenilworth Road or any other stadia for the final nine games of the campaign. Season ticket holders will be able to watch the game on the club’s online TV channel iFollow.
Jones, who will take charge of the first game of his second spell in charge, 16 months after leaving the club, said: “I think football can be a positive, coming back, as it gives people a focus, something to cling to if you like.
“But it’s going to be strange as it’s different. The training on a day-to-day basis is different from what the beginning of March was, February was.
“But we have to move past that and try and re-establish society, the world and how we go about our daily lives and the sooner and safer we can do that, the better.”
Footballers and club staff are subject to testing twice a week and eight individuals have tested positive from six clubs in the last week. Preston striker Jayden Stockley and one other Deepdale player tested positive at the end of last month, though both have are back fit and healthy and returned to training.
Town players have maintained a clean bill of health, but boss Jones is mindful that it could change and affect his plans during a congested nine games in a six week period, in which second-from-bottom Town are aiming pull off a great escape.
Jones said: “If you have a positive test then obviously it effects because you have to self isolate for a certain number of days, you have to look at GPS for anyone you may have been in the vicinity of, it’s a very complex thing.
“It can derail you. What we have to do is be diligent and like Boris (Johnson – Prime Minister) says, ‘stay alert’. And if you do that, then hopefully you can get through it virus-free. If you get through it virus-free and you avoid injuries then you have a good chance of putting your best 11 out.”
Despite such an extended period without competitive action, and the scale of the task that lays before Luton, who are six points adrift of safety – effectively seven if you take into account their -28 goal difference – Jones insists there’a fearless in his squad.
“You see it in training,” he said, adding: “Now they have to transfer into a nine-game period, a mini tournament, if you like, so we will see. Only time will tell but we’re looking forward to it.
“It’s a challenge, we’re delighted it’s started back up because if it didn’t and it was points-per-game then we know that Luton wouldn’t be a Championship side next year, but this gives us an opportunity.
“Hopefully we have to get off to a good start and give ourselves an opportunity because there is a lot of games to play. A lot of games against teams around us where your destiny could be in your own hands.
“Yes we have a points deficit to climb back and we’re going to need to do that, but we need to be in with a shout right until the end and if we are, then I back this group.”
