Tom Lockyer has had an injury setback looks likely to miss Luton’s Easter games, while fellow defenders Sonny Bradley and Dan Potts are back training, though the Derby and Barnsley games could come too soon.
Wales international Lockyer had been called up by his country during the current international break, despite having been out with an ankle injury since mid February, but the centre back was withdrawn from the squad and Hatters assistant manager Mick Harford revealed that he’s unlikely to play over the holiday period.
“Tom has had a little setback with his injury so he didn’t go away with the Wales squad,” said Harford.
“It is touch and go for the Easter period but we’re really disappointed for Tom because we believe he is a big part of our squad and the Welsh squad. He has missed out on two or three games for the Welsh team so we monitor that one over the next few days.”
Captain Bradley got injured a week later than his defensive partner, with a thigh problem and Harford said: “Sonny is back on the grass now training but it maybe a bit too early for Sonny this game.”
Potts was stretchered off with a head injury during the 1-0 defeat to Swansea earlier this month, but he is now back training too, while the trio on international duty this last week – James Collins, Joe Morrell and Simon Sluga – will return to training tomorrow, to prepare for the trip to Derby on Friday.
At this stage last term, Harford moved from his head of recruitment role to become the right hand man of manager Nathan Jones when he returned to Town for a second spell.
They helped engineer the Great Escape to avoid relegation on the final day, but this term they find themselves in more comfortable surroundings, having notched 50 points with the victory over Preston just before the international break.
Harford said: “There has been a big improvement, especially in terms of the points. Defensively we have been really solid and sound. We don’t look like conceding goals at all.
“Certain individuals have come to the fore and performed really well. As a whole group I think we have improved immensely and it has shown in the league position.
“We want to keep improving, we want to keep getting better and we want to keep testing ourselves. This game against Derby is a big test for us and that is what we look forward to.”
