Luton Town youngster Benny Benagr will be sidelined by a hamstring problem but manager Jack Wilshere says the academy graduate will not be out for long.
The 18-year-old was withdrawn at half-time during Wednesday night’s 2-0 victory over Stockport County after picking up the injury, so will not be available to face Leyton Orient tomorrow.
Wilshere confirmed Benagr has a “slight problem” but believes the spell on the sidelines will also provide an opportunity to help strengthen the young winger physically after his rapid emergence into the first team.
The club had expected him to spend time with the Under-21s this term, but he was a late call-up to join the first team on their pre-season camp in Spain and he impressed so much since that he scored on his Hatters debut and has featured in all six of Town’s games this term.
“Benny came off with a hammy. Unfortunately he does have a slight problem with his hammy. Not a bad problem,” Wilshere said ahead of tomorrow’s home League One fixture.
The Luton boss believes Benagr’s physical development is particularly important given the remarkable progress he has made in recent weeks.
“Benny’s one as well that we need to carry on working with — from a footballing point of view, yes, but also from a physical point of view,” Wilshere said.
“He had a little bit of a tough season last year with the 21s and missed some games. And then we wanted to keep him there for pre-season, and then he came to us at pre-season and there was a jump up in intensity.
“He probably didn’t expect to fly like he did — maybe he did, he is a confident kid who just takes every challenge. But yeah, he went from playing in the 21s game to four or five weeks later starting for the first team. That is a jump up in physicality.
“It’s important that we use this time to make him more robust and make him stronger in other areas. But, unfortunately, he’ll be out, but he won’t be too long.”
Benagr had already endured an interrupted campaign last season and Wilshere says the club will take a considered approach to his development, including his work away from the pitch.
“I think after the year he had last year – I’m not sure it was his hammy, but more his hip – we have to make him strong in all areas,” he said.
“Not just on the pitch but off the pitch, with his gym stuff and his nutrition and everything like that.
“But that is part of his development. So yeah, we don’t want to take too many risks with him, but we also want him because he can help the team.”
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