Luke Berry has been praised by boss Graeme Jones for biding his time and then taking his chance when opportunity came knocking.
The 27-year-old midfielder put in his best performance yet in Tuesday’s 2-1 win over Brentford, but for the first four months of the season, he made only two Championship appearances and then didn’t play at all for two-and-a-half months between the end of September and the early part of December.
It was the November injury of Izzy Brown – who is fit to face Stoke on Saturday – that gave him his chance and he helped the Hatters to a victory against Wigan in his first game back.
While he’s made 13 league appearances since, his influence was at its highest in midweek when he provided assists for both Town goals and put in an all-action off-the-ball midfield performance to help grind out victory against the division’s second top goalscorers.
Asked how much Berry has improved, Jones said: “Luke was coming back from injury and he sort of missed a bit in the early season. I think he missed maybe ten days, so it takes you out of your stride and then other people take their opportunity.
“Then you’re lower down the pecking order. Izzy got injured at Brentford and Luke, the fantastic professional that he is, is out there training his backside off every day, doing extras.
“He lives a clean lifestyle so when his opportunity came around he was ready. For me, he’s taken it with both hands, he’s been really, really good.
“He’s certain played his role here, he’s given us a great level when we’ve called upon him, and that’s what you want to do.
“You need to add to the group, no matter what the circumstances are, and Luke’s taken full advantage of the opportunity, but he took full advantage because he’s out there and, if the opportunity comes, he’s ready.
“That’s the definition of being an exceptional professional, for me, which nobody speaks about. He’s been rewarded for being a really top professional.”
