Injury-hit Luton still down to bare bones for Brentford clash but Edwards points to ‘progress’

Hopes of Luton being bolstered by returning players for the crucial Premier League visit of Brentford have been dashed with the news that only Teden Mengi is a possibility – though manager Rob Edwards is hoping more may still feature in the final four games after that.

The centre half missed last weekend’s 5-1 defeat at Premier League champions Manchester City, after which Edwards said he hoped to have Sambi Lokonga and Gabriel Osho back from injury for the Bees clash, but the pair won’t feature and neither will a host of other long-term injured players.

However, Edwards has not ruled out their return and that of Elijah Adebayo, Chiedozie Ogbene, Mads Andersen, Dan Potts before the end of the season, but has confirmed that Marvelous Nakamba, Amari’i Bell and Jacob Brown – who have all undergone surgery this term – will not play again this term.

With five games left to save their Premier League season, it leaves Luton potentially facing Brentford with a backline similar to the one they took to Manchester City, which included Reece Burke as the only recognised centre back alongside wingback Daiki Hashioka and wingers Alfie Doughty and Fred Onyedinma.

However, into that defensive line-up Luton will welcome back loan ace Issa Kabore, who missed out at the Etihad Stadium last weekend as he was ineligble to play against his parent club.

On his injury list which currently totals ten squad players, Edwards said: “We’ve had progess this week, but whether that means there can be progress on the pitch is another thing. I don’t anticipate too many changes, but we are making progress.

“We’re hoping in the coming games that we can see some of those players coming back but it will be difficult for tomorrow.

“We’ve got 11 or 12 out. We had two goalkeepers and four teenagers on the bench at Man City. Our back four consisted of a centre back, a full back and two wingers, at Man City.

“We’re hopefully going to start getting into a stronger shape. Everyone’s doing everything they can to try and do that.”

Asked about the status of defenders Andersen, who has been missing since Christmas, and Potts who has not played at all this term, Edwards said: “They’re in the list of maybes. They’re not out of contention completely but they’re in the maybes. It might be a game or two, max, I think.”