Luton medical room like ‘Bermuda Triangle,’ says Jones, but one star Hatter ‘fine’ to face Hull

Nathan Jones says Luton’s medical room is like the Bermuda Triangle for defenders, though top scorer Elijah Adebayo is expected to be fit for tomorrow’s trip to Hull City. 

The forward limped off at the end of Wednesday’s 4-0 Championship win over Preston North End, but the manager insisted he was OK, joking: “He’ll be fine. I just think he wanted a clap (from the crowd). 

It was a concerning sight nevertheless after Reece Burke, Town’s only recognised centre half, limped off after just 23 minutes in midweek, holding his hamstring. 

Town had started that game without Kal Naismith and Tom Lockyer, who both picked up injuries, while club captain Sonny Bradley has been missing since January, having had a groin/hernia operation. 

Midfielder Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu’s afternoon ended early against QPR on Sunday, while Gabriel Osho has been sidelined since early March.

Jones said: “Our medical room at the minute is like the Bermuda Triangle. Anyone that goes in there, at the minute, just doesn’t come out. 

“We’ve got a break now after Saturday, so we’ll just try to get through the weekend. We are down to the absolute bare bones. 

“Well, defensively, we’re beyond bare bones. We’re makeshift. But we’ve just had a wonderful performance, let’s talk about that. We’ll dust ourselves down, travel up to Hull and see what’s happened.”

But despite finishing with a back four of full-backs against Preston, with Peter Kioso and Dan Potts, excelling as centre halves, Luton claimed their 16th clean sheet of the Championship campaign – the most of any team in the division. 

“For me, as a defender a clean sheet is the most important thing,” said Kioso. “We love to defend. It’s not just the defenders, but from Eli all the way back. You see how hard the strikers work, even out of possession. 

“They make our job easier. You know the saying, defending starts from the front and that’s what this club shows, that’s what this team shows. 

“Before it even gets to us defenders, Eli, H (Harry Cornick), Hylts (Danny Hylton), all the strikers, Cam (Jerome), Carlos (Mendes Gomes), Adi (Muskwe), they’re all ready to go full out. 

“You always see the strikers are one of the most tired on the pitch, because they always put in a shift that helps is out. 

“We love defending. That’s what you’re going to get from this club. We love working hard and we’re always going to do that.” 

In Wednesday’s injury-enforced first half defensive reshuffle, Kioso and Potts were also joined in a centre back three by right back James Bree, but there was no nervousness as they shut the door on Preston. 

Kioso said: “The boys trust each other and we know the Breesy going to centre back, he can do a job there. Breesy’s a great player and if he’s asked to do a job there, he’s always going to do it. 

“Onye (Fred Onyedinma) comes in at right wing back and it’s just about shifting and concentrating on the job ahead. 

“Obviously, it’s unfortunate for Reece. He’s a great guy and hopefully it’s nothing too serious, but the squad will worry about making sure that everybody on the pitch is able to get the result. And that’s what we’ve done.” 

Jones also hailed Kioso’s temperament to be able to perform so well when called upon. 

The manager said: “With Peter, he’s had to show real humility because he was in a promotion-chasing team at MK Dons (on loan) and we’ve recalled him for our own purposes, to hopefully join a promotion-chasing team here. 

“He’s had to bide his time, bite the bullet, but he’s shown great humility and when he’s come in he’s invariably done very well.”

Kioso made his Hatters debut at tomorrow’s opponents Hull, in the match that Kazenga LuaLua scored late on to take Luton’s Great Escape to the final day of the 2019/20 season. 

Jones said: “I’ve got one of a wonderful win there and then the last time I was there it was the worst plane trip I’ve ever had in my life, so lucky enough, we haven’t got enough money to fly. 

“It’s a tough game away at Hull. We have to try to get a result. We’ll go into the international break and, whatever happens, we’ll be in touching distance of the top six. 

“We’ve got two-and-a-half weeks to get everyone back, dust everyone down and we can go again.”