Tom Lockyer is expected to feature against West Ham United in Luton’s first-ever Premier League clash at Kenilworth Road tonight.
The skipper was withdrawn at half-time during Town’s 3-2 Carabao Cup win over Gillingham on Tuesday night.
Lockyer is still on his way back to full fitness after heart surgery following a worrying collapse in the Championship play-off final, so boss Edwards didn’t want to take any risks with the Welshman.
“It was a bit earlier than expected, he’s fine,” said the manager of Lockyer’s early departure in midweek.
“He’s someone that is clearly very, very important to us, but at the same time he’s not someone that we’re willing to risk if it’s too severe.”
Lockyer trained on Thursday ahead of the Hammers’ visit and Edwards added of his captain: “I’m expecting him to be involved in the game as he’s a warrior, so from that point of view, shouldn’t be any change.”
Lockyer was this week selected for Wales’ upcoming international matches and Edwards said: “(It’s) fantastic and well deserved. He will, and I’ve got my own thoughts on him and where he could be in the pecking order, but that’s down to him and not my decision at all, but from what he did for us last year and his performance levels were so high, so consistent, so really pleased for him to get back in the mix.”
Wales coach Rob Page hailed the “great story” of Lockyer recovering from his collapse at Wembley.
Reflecting on the incident and the day, his club boss, Edwards, said: “After the final, all thoughts were just on his health and that was it, but then quite quickly we knew he would be fine and OK, and so I thought OK, when he gets back fit, gets back at it, he should be in the Wales squad like he was before.
“So, it’s a brilliant story now, absolutely worrying as hell at the time, but we’ve been through all that, he’s back and playing Premier League football and deserve to be in the Wales squad.”
