Graeme Jones says Izzy Brown now has to prove his pedigree after a promising debut during the 3-1 Carabao Cup first round victory over Ipswich.
The Chelsea forward arrived on a season-long loan on transfer deadline day, looking to kick on with his career after a series anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Brown set up Lloyd Jones’ opener and was a star turn in a 66-minute showing – cut short as a precaution due to tight calves – that set out the 22-year-old as one to watch this term.
Jones said: “He’s got to prove it. One swallow doesn’t make a summer and I don’t think that will be the case because I think he’s at a club that suits him.
“His girlfriend is from the area and I think he’s at an age where he’s done all the big clubs and it’s about football.
“He’s going to play under a coaching team that want to play his style of football. So, it’s all come together but he needs to look after himself, manage himself and present himself every day.”
Asked how much he can affect that, Jones said: “I can help a lot but, ultimately it’s down to the individual. I’ve got no worries with Izzy but being out there every day, being able to play minutes every weekend means that he’ll get adaptation and get better and better and better.
“It’s a simple formula, but the player needs to buy into it as well as the coaching staff.”
Talking about his run out against Ipswich, the Hatters boss said: “I was really pleased with Izzy, he’s just got that quality. Obviously, he was struggling with his calves at half time, but I just wanted to push him, and he played another 17 or 18 minutes.
“But it’s there for everybody to see. Izzy’s got great pedigree and now he’s got an opportunity at Luton to put that into practice.
“I think the move has fallen at the right time for him in his career, the right time for him in his personal life and I just want him to enjoy his football, take it serious and feel the love of the supporters.
“I thought the supporters were brilliant with him tonight, but obviously we’ve got a lot more work to do.”
