Isaiah Jones believes Luton Town’s squad is the strongest in League One after they finally showed it as he chipped in with a scoring star turn in the stunning 3-0 win away at leaders Stockport County.
The winger, making his first start since recovering from a stress fracture in his back, was one of the stars of a statement performance that stretched Jack Wilshere’s winning start as manager to four matches in all competitions.
But far from describing the result as a message to the rest of the division, Jones insisted it was just the latest sign of a team rediscovering its belief.
“I wouldn’t say it’s a statement win,” he said. “It was just another win. Of course, they’ve been flying and they’re top of the table, so you have to show them a bit of respect. But at the same time, I feel like what we have in the changing room is probably the best in the league, in my opinion. Three goals, clean sheet, what more can you ask for?”
Jones’ goal — his first of the season in only his third appearance — capped a remarkable personal comeback after missing the early months of the campaign. He admitted the summer had been one of the toughest spells of his career.
“Coming in for pre-season and getting injured in the first week and a half, and a very unusual injury. But I just had to keep my head [up],” he told the BBC. “And I thank the physio team and the medical team for getting me back to the point where I am fully fit and able to play and I’m just trying to do what I can do for the team and help them climb up the table, get to end goal. Today [Saturday], it was just a starting point, a good win away from home, first goal in the league, what more could I ask for on a good day like this?”
Jones could only watch on as his team-mates laboured under former boss Matt Bloomfield, who was replaced by Wilshere a month ago.
Asked what he put that down to, he said: “There’s a mixture of things. We had a lot of players injured. The amount of players we had injured we could’ve put another team out if we wanted to. And I just feel like maybe it’s just belief and confidence in the boys in the first half. And since Jack came in, he’s told us what he wants from us as players. Identity, belief and I feel like we’ve seen that in the last couple of games and long may it continue.”
He also credited Wilshere’s arrival for the turnaround in confidence that has powered Luton’s recent resurgence.
“[There’s] respect for the gaffer because what he’s done in his playing career, but I feel like even though the old gaffer [Matt Bloomfield], everyone had respect for him, it just didn’t work out the way we wanted to work out as players.
“But I feel like now it’s a new gaffer, new style, new system, a new way of playing and maybe it just suits the players more than the old gaffer’s and how he wanted to play. The last for four games, four wins in a row, what more can you ask for?”
Jones also praised young 18-year-old midfielder Jake Richards, who scored a first Hatters goal and then set up his goal at Edgeley Park.
“For Jake, it’s been a difficult start, coming from Exeter to a club like Luton with all the expectations,” he said. “But in the last couple of weeks he’s shown his quality. Me and him have been building a really good relationship on the right-hand side, and it showed today — he gets the ball wide, I make the underlap run, and a good finish to top it off.”
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