Jack Wilshere has dismissed speculation linking Isaiah Jones with a move away from Luton, insisting the player remains a key part of his plans and that once fit he will be the solution to a problem position.
Jones has been sidelined for over two months following an ankle injury sustained at Barnsley, following a stress fracture in his back that delayed his start to the season.
Reports emerged yesterday that Championship side Oxford United, now managed by former Luton boss Matt Bloomfield, had enquired about the 26-year-old but Wilshere said no contact has been made.
“Izzy he is someone who I see fitting in perfectly into what we found. You probably saw that in a couple of games that he was available. So I love Izzy and Izzy’s my right back.
“The beauty with him is you see what we do with JJ [Joe Johnson] and how fluid he is in that position. You can use that with Izzy as well. He can play right wing, inside that right channel, but yeah, right back is where I see him.”
Wilshere also revealed Jones himself sees right-back as his best position and explained why he agrees.
“I remember my first conversation was with Izzy when he started to get fit. I said, ‘what’s your favourite position?’ He told me ‘right back’, Wilshere said, adding: “I can see why he’s outstanding in there. He’s one of our best one-v-one defenders. And very rarely does anyone get the better of him.
The Hatters boss also played down the need to recruit in that area with the the transfer window shutting on Monday, pointing to existing options within the squad.
“I also would say that I think we’ve got four right backs in the building,” Wilshere said, adding: “Nigel [Lonwijk] is not a right back but can play right back. Hakeem [Odoffin] has played right back and when he’s done that he was outstanding for us against Bolton, against Huddersfield, when we really needed that type of right back, that type of character. We’ve got Reuell Walters in the building and we’ve got Izzy.
“So we’ve got four right backs in the building that all give you something a little bit different I think. So yeah, I don’t think we need a right back.”
With Jones edging closer to full fitness, Wilshere is hopeful the Guyana international can yet play a significant role in the second half of the season. The Hatters boss confirmed Jones trained with the group for the first time today, marking a significant step in his recovery.
Wilshere said: “Izzy trained today for the first time today. He’s sort of been in and out of training this week, been working with the medical team, probably two or three weeks to try and get his fitness back by actually training with the group is where you get that fitness, that sharpness, that rhythm, and it was his first one today. So, yeah, happy to have him back in the, in the in training.”
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