Jones made Naismith feel he could be top player  – now he eyes battle with Chelsea’s Lukaku

Luton boss Nathan Jones gave Kal Naismith the belief that he could be a top Championship centre half and now he’s keen to test himself tonight against Chelsea’s Romelu Lukaku.

The Scot arrived at Kenilworth Road from Wigan in January last year, billed as something of a utility player. 

The 30-year-old has played left back, left wing and in midfield in his time with Town, but this term he’s really found his calling in the heart of defence.  

And in Sonny Bradley’s absence due to a hernia operation, Naismith has also taken over captain’s duties, while his status as cult hero was secured with a last kick of the game winner against Bournemouth, which is virtually nailed on as goal of the season. 

But at the back, he’s played in 14 of Town’s 16 clean sheets in all competitions this term and, asked what he attributes to his growing reputation as a defender, he credits Jones. 

“He’s probably the first ever manager in my  career that’s actually really put an arm around me and said, ‘you’re my player, I really believe in you,’” Naismith said.  

“It was never me fighting. Always when you sign for a club you have to fight to prove yourself. It was after three, four, five weeks, I knew the manager believed in me, I knew he backed me, there was no trying five different positions over three or four months and just fitting into the team, it was the manager said, I believe you’re one of the top centre halves in the Championship and he instilled that belief in me and something that I’ve been forever grateful for.

“He’s the first manager to put his arm round me and just truly believe in me, it gave me that extra spring in my step to go and show, I know it’s always been there, but he’s the first person to give me that platform to go and show it. 

“And nothing against any previous managers as every manager I’ve had I’ve been grateful for, but I think the gaffer here is the first one that has really, really backed me and said, ‘you’re potentially one of the best centre halves in the Championship,’ and just gave me that belief to go and play week in, week out and got and prove that.

“It’s difficult, especially for me having signed here playing a number of different positions, no-one really knew what my best position was but it just goes to show the gaffer has an eye for a player and how much he knows about the game.

“He saw me play left wingback, saw me play centre half and it was evident pretty quickly, he said, ‘centre half is where I can see you being a top, top player. Obviously, if I need you anywhere else, I know you can play that.’

“He knows, still to this day, if he ever needed me I’ll go and do a job, but just pretty quickly, he gave me that belief, I was never here to fill in, he’s seen me and said you’re a top, top left-sided centre half, it just gave me that belief.”

And Naismith credits Jones’ faith so much because it fit in with what he believed but was never confident enough to say out loud before. 

“I knew centre half was my best position, but I was probably a bit afraid to come out and say centre have is my best position and that’s where I want to play,” said the former Glasgow Rangers ace. 

“Because then, if I fail at that and don’t get in, in that area, when I could’ve potentially played at left back or left midfield, and got minutes in Championship games to prove myself, then it was quite a difficult thing. 

“So I always said, ‘I’m here for whenever you need me’. I obviously put the team first as I always do, but he’s the first manager that actually said to me, ‘listen, centre half is your best position’, and fully believed in me to play centre half. 

“I’m just grateful for that and, coming away from that conversation (with Jones), it gave me the belief to back myself in that position. It gave me a massive boost of confidence.”

But having been part of a defence that has shut out the likes of former Premier League opposition in West Brom, Swansea, Derby, Sheffield United, Huddersfield, Stoke, Blackburn and Reading, Naismith is now relishing the chance to test himself against the reigning European and World Club Cup champions, Chelsea. 

He said: “There’s no pressure on us, they’re Club World champions recently and it’s a team full of superstars, but listen, we’ve got good players, we’re not coming there just to give them a lot of respect and take it easy and let them to do what they need to do.

“They’re coming to our place, it’s a tough place to come for any team, I truly believe that, so it will be a difficult game for them and, if we’re at our best, then let’s see what happens.

“It’s something you definitely get excited for as it’s a big challenge. You see these players, you watch them week in, week out, against the best teams in the world, doing some unbelievable things.

“But, at the end of the day, they’re footballers just like us, they’re obviously very good at what they do, but it’s just an excitement to see where I’m at. 

“If I do come up against Lukaku, (I can) see how well I deal with a player like that, what clever thing would he do that I’ve not seen before, that I can then see and be a better player.

“It’s just excitement to play against those players. I’m not going to sit here and say that we’ll win the game, but we’re quietly confident and truly believe that with the fans behind us, at our stadium, the way we play at home, it will be tough for them, 100 per cent be tough for them.”