Graeme Jones says Luton should be proud of Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, who he called a ‘success story’ ahead of the midfielder’s sixth anniversary at the club.
Should the 25-year-old play against Brentford in the Championship tomorrow it will be six years to the day of his maiden performance for the Hatters while a teenage loanee from West Ham United.
He first featured at the centre of defence in a 2013 non-league clash at Staines in the FA Trophy, but has since gone on to become the only player in Luton’s history to have played for the club in four different division, winning three promotions and scoring in each.
Mpanzu was boss Jones’ man-of-the-match in Tuesday night’s 2-1 Championship victory against Charlton, in which he scored his 16th goal for the Hatters, to help end a five-game losing run.
Jones said: “I’ve been really, really pleased with Pelly. I think he looks a Championship footballer to me. As a football club, I think we need to be really proud of that success story.
“To come through the leagues with the club and to feel what he’s felt, there’s nobody in a better position that him, from the history of the club and also where it is today so, definitely, he’s played a pivotal role, this season in particular.
“Is there more to come from him? Yeah. He’s still getting to work with people. I had a brief chat with him today and one or two things to start affecting people on a man management level.
“I understand what he is now and what he can be and it’s keeping him in one area and keeping him out of another, because it’s very precarious sometimes, confidence and over-confidence, but I really like where he is and I really enjoyed his performance on Tuesday.”
With no new injury concerns and a settled Luton side for the last two games, the smart money would be on another unchanged 11 for the trip to west London tomorrow. That would hand Mpanzu his 225th appearance, with Jones admitting he’s been ’shocked’ by the midfielder’s ability.
He said: “If we’re assessing every area, he’s very capable, he’s robust, so he can play three games in a week at the same level, no problem.
“His one-v-one duals, he’s got this habit of coming away with things. He’s strong, but a talent as well. Tactically, I’ve been shocked by him. You don’t have to give him lots of information. All the top ones can take things on board very quickly and he’s one of them.
“I think the present role he’s playing in the middle of the three – I wouldn’t say he’s an out-and-out defensive midfielder, but he’s in the middle of that three – suits him.
“Technically, when he doesn’t get over-confident, he’s very very competent on the ball, and, mentally, he’s a brave boy. He’s a very strong character and is the same boy, win, lose or draw, which I think is a great quality.
“He’s a courageous footballer. I can think of him now in our six-yard box, playing out from the back, playing 3-v-2 and getting the ball from James Shea.
“He’s always ambitious with his passing. He can play safe passes, but he looks to open people up, that’s why maybe he loses the ball a little bit more than other people.”
READ: Kevin Harper’s Hatters column – Opinion: Six years ago a Luton legend was born
