Lloyd Jones admits his two seasons at Luton have been frustrating but working under new manager Graeme Jones feels like a chance to wipe the slate clean.
The defenders signed from Liverpool in January 2018 but failed to pin down a first team spot, with former manager Nathan Jones only played him once in League Two and then only five times last term.
He was allowed to return on loan to his boyhood club Plymouth for the second half of last season with the first team centre back berths firmly occupied by Sonny Bradley and Matty Pearson.
Asked what the arrival of the new Hatters manager in the summer has meant for him, Jones said: “I think it’s just a fresh start.
“I wasn’t in and around it since I’ve been here, probably with the move (from Liverpool) I thought I would be more than I was, but that’s football. I’m trying to do the right thing.
“The gaffer’s been brilliant from day one about playing out (from the back) and that’s something I enjoy, hopefully I can bring that to the team.
“I didn’t help myself about two pre-seasons ago, and that didn’t help me come into last season.
“The boys did excellently last season, so that’s one thing, I’m not young, young, but I’m still fairly young. He’s been really good at keeping my concentration, so I’m just going to keep doing that.
“It’s come from that pre-season, it’s stuck with me a little bit, that’s the main thing for me and it’s made me switch on even more now.”
Manager Graeme Jones admitted that has been impressed with the defender after being told that his concentration levels would drop in games, confirming it hasn’t been the case since he’s been at the club.
As a result he handed the 23-year-old his first start under him for Tuesday night’s 3-1 Carabao Cup win over Ipswich, the centre back heading home his first goal for the club in the eighth minute.
Afterwards, the defender said: “If I’m honest, it’s been frustrating since I’ve been here. Not this season so far, I’ve really enjoyed it, but I previous seasons, it’s been frustrating.
“Sometimes I haven’t helped myself as well, but it’s hard to put your finger on it. At the start it didn’t help when the lads were doing really well in League Two.
“I was on the bench for the first couple of games, came back in pre-season and thought I had a decent pre-season, but I did make a couple of silly mistakes and then Matty and Sonny were excellent throughout.
“I thought they were brilliant last year, and then I wanted to go and play some games in January and wanted to get a few games under my belt.
“But I’ve just got to keep pushing now, that’s all I can keep doing at the moment. It’s down to me at the end of the day.
“If he (Graeme Jones) puts me on the pitch then great, if doesn’t then I’ll be working every day to try and get on that pitch.
“When I step over that white line it’s all down to me. Sometimes it doesn’t work out the way you plan, it’s just a fresh start for everyone.
“Since I’ve been here, everyone’s been brilliant. They (Pearson and Bradley) were magnificent last season and it’s a new season, so I’ve got to keep pushing to get in.
“I’m not complaining now as we’re in the Championship. Sometimes it was frustrating on the sidelines, but this football and you’ve got to get on with it.”
