Dion Pereira has been training with Luton’s first team squad for a week, with assistant boss Mick Harford saying the “talented” youngster now has to take his chance.
The 21-year-old joined the Hatters as a development squad player in November, having had a spell in America’s MLS with Atalanta United.
A winger with pace and skill Pereira has been seen as a promising prospect, with the potential to force his way into the first team, and he bagged a brace for Hatters Under-21s in a 3-2 friendly defeat to Gillingham last week.
Speaking in a pre-Derby press conference, Harford said: “He’s come in, done really well, he’s a really talented kid.
“It’s up to him now we’ve given him the opportunity. We’ve set him some targets. Can he make the squad? Can he make the bench? Can he get minutes on the pitch?
“So, we’ve set Dion targets and he’s responding to it and he’s done really well since coming into our group.
“Technically, he’s very very good. He’s a young lad, who’s learning his way. He’s impressed all of us and hopefully he can kick on and make an impact in the squad.”
