Luton will face arch-rivals Watford tomorrow with a depleted backline after three defenders returned from international duty with injuries including a broken foot that will keep one Hatter out for months.
Mark McGuinness (Republic of Ireland), Teden Mengi and Reuell Walters (both England youth) were all sent home early from the international break with injuries and two have been ruled out of Town’s crunch Championship clash.
McGuinness, who Irish boss Heimir Hallgrimsson had said that would make the derby day game, has not yet trained, but will be assessed closer to kick-off.
“He came back early,” said boss Rob Edwards, adding: “We’re giving him as much time as possible. He hasn’t trained yet, so we’ll see.”
Mengi was called up from the England Under-21s standby list but didn’t feature in their two games.
Edwards said: “Unfortunately, Teden’s a no. He pulled his calf away with England.”
However, the Hatters will be without Walters for a long period with the manager reveaing: “Reuell had to pull out because after the Sheffield United game he was in a lot of pain, and unfortunately, he’s broken his foot, so he’s going to be out for a significant amount of time.
“A broken foot or someone goes away on international duty and rolls their ankle or, or pulls their calf. It’s something that’s out of our control as well. But look, there’s no complaints. I’ve never tried to hide behind that.
“There’s no excuses. So, it’s an opportunity for for maybe one or two others. We’ll see where we’re at and go and attack the game.”
Much of 2024 has seen Luton battling a defensive injury crisis and it looked like it was clearing a month ago, but Amari’i Bell (hamstring) and Mads Andersen (thigh) both got injured in the same week, while Mengi has had a knee problem.
“We’ve got to deal with it,” Edwards said of this new raft of injuries, adding: “This is it. You know, it’s a massive game and we will deal with it.”
Their is some positive news however, with the news that captain Carlton Morris, attacker Tahith Chong and full back Daiki Hashioka are all available to face Watford.
“Carlton’s OK, he had a good week of training, so that’s a positive.
“Chongy, because of the protocols (for concussion) so Chongy’s had a good ten days or so of training and Hashi has as well, so there are some silver linings to those clouds.”
Hashioka, was signed in January, but arrived injured and had to wait until the end of February to make his debut, making 11 appearances in the Premier League last term. But the Japanese international suffered an injury in pre-season so hasn’t featured yet in the Championship.
Edwards said: “Hashi’s had a difficult run of it since he’s come in. Coming in, in difficult games last season to play out a position at times, he gave us absolutely everything.
“And when you’re coming in from another country anyway, it can be challenging to settle. So, he’s he’s a plus for us, coming back, and he can see he’s bringing he’s brought some really good energy to the training group as well.”
Mads Andersen is one of Luton’s defenders that has suffered with long injuries since he signed from Barnsley last summer. All of his ten Premier League appearances came in 2023 and in only his second appearance of 2024, where he came on from an injured Teden Mengi at Plymouth, he limped off himself after 16 minutes.
Edwards said of the Dane: “He’s doing all right. He’s out in the grass, not training with the team yet, but he’s outside running and getting there. So, hopefully to introduce him to the training again in the next week or so.”
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