Jones gives injury update on Doughty and Onyedinma ahead of Preston clash

Nathan Jones has given hope that Luton fans will see new signing Alfie Doughty sooner rather than later, while Fred Onyedinma is also closer to a return. 

The Hatters signed the right wing-back in the summer from Stoke but after an appearance in the club’s last pre-season game, a 1-1 draw with Premier League West Ham, an old recurring hamstring injury has so far kept him on the treatment table so far this term.

Asked whether it’s a matter of weeks, rather than months before supporters get to see the 22-year-old in competitive action, Jones said: “Oh yes.”

The Town boss added: “Alfie had a few issues last year with hamstring, so we’ve got to be very careful with him.

“We’ve given him a pre-season where he’s had a base bit of work, he’s had a little minor issue with that and then we’ve got to make sure that we build it and rectify that, and then bring him back in when it’s safe to do so.

“That’s all it is really, but he’s a very high-speed athlete, really potent, so we have to make sure that we build that up as there are certain deficiencies there that we need to rectify before we can give him a run of games, but we’ve always been prepared to do that.”

Another of Town’s pacey players that has been missing this season is Onyedinma, who pulled up with a hamstring problem in the 7-0 drubbing at Fulham last season, leading the attacker to miss the play-off run. 

Jones said: “He’s closer, he’s one of those who was left over from last year, he contributed a bit in pre-season, but he didn’t feel quite right, so we just had to take him back, strip him back basically and build him up, and he’s a lot closer now.

“He had an injury, came back quickly from a groin, just a tight groin and then pulled his hamstring, so it was a real tough one for us as he was just gathering a bit of momentum as well.

“So, he’s had an unfortunate year, but sometimes that can happen in your first year, what we’re looking for now is a bit more continuity.”

After getting dumped out of the Carabao Cup first round by fourth-tier Newport County, Town return to Championship action on Saturday when they host Preston North End, putting their unbeaten start to the league campaign on the line. 

Goalscorer in that cup exit, Carlos Mendes Gomes got injured in the game, while Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu is yet to feature this season. 

Asked if there were any other injury concerns ahead of Saturday’s clash, Jones said: “Bumps and bruises from the other day. A couple of midfielders picked up knocks.

“DP (Dion Pereira) had cramp and carried on, Carlos came off at half-time, but he’s hopefully OK, so it’s just the time of year, relentless with games every two, three, four days and that’s what you have to do, dust them down and roll them back out.”

Expanding on Mendes Gomes’ injury, the manager added: “It was a stamp really, he got fouled, he got kicked and then he got stamped on, and then that’s what he came off for, the actual stamp. 

“I was more baffled that it wasn’t a free-kick, but he came off, he’s trained today so he seems to be fine.”