Nathan Jones saw summer signing Jordan Clark come off the bench late on to beat Derby County 2-1 and admitted if he knew how good a player he was getting, he would’ve signed him earlier.
It was the winger’s second headed winner in a week after he linked up with Rhys Norrington-Davies to dump the Royals out of the Carabao Cup and set up Tuesday’s massive tie at home to Manchester United.
The two new boys combined here against a Rams side captained by Wayne Rooney – who has known noting but defeat at Kenilworth Road – to send Luton up to second the Championship and maintain a perfect start to the campaign, when the Wales Under-21 international picked out an unmarked Clark in the 87th minute.
Hatters manager Nathan Jones said: “Since I came to the club and he was at Accrington, I’ve known about him and he’s been one of the better players in the leagues that he’s been in. He was a real threat and we knew that.
“The thing was, we played a different system. We played a diamond so didn’t really use wide ones, but if I’d have known how good a footballer he is I would’ve got him earlier.
“We’ve changed certain criteria in how we want to play, and he came on our radar. He’s a wonderful signing and there’s plenty to come.
“I’m so happy for him because he’s the nicest, humblest, hard-working, best kid you could have, he really, really is. The thing is, I’ve probably got 24 of those.”
Clark was signed on a free from Accrington Stanley, having not played a competitive match since March, when League One was concluded early after the Coronavirus pandemic.
But he arrived with a tremendous record for creating chances, the fourth highest (47) in England’s top four divisions, just behind Manchester City superstar Kevin De Bruyne (54).
“He’s not here for his looks, he’s not here because he’s 6ft 5ins, or any other reason, he’s here because he creates a phenomenal amount of chances and we want him to score more goals. He’s responding,” said Jones.
“If you remember the players we bring to the club, they have a desire and a hunger to, one, play for Luton Town, two, to get to the next level and when they’re at that next level, they don’t want to stop.
“And that’s the great thing about the recruitment we have, the policy and our ethos, so he fitted that. He fitted that in abundance.
“We met each other just north of where I live, and it was a wonderful meeting and I knew I had to have him.
“Fair play to the board, because he was outside the budget. I said, ‘I’ve met this kid’. They knew all about him anyway, but the club backed me, and I’m delighted they have.”
