Luton’s reputation as ‘full throttle team’ remains after matching Man City goals, says Tom Ince

Tom Ince says Luton’s reputation in football still remains as an attacking team that once matched Manchester City as the most prolific goalscorers in Europe, during their ascent to the Championship.

The Stoke City forward signed on loan until the end of the season with Hatters boss Nathan Jones saying that securing his signature shows the club’s “ambition” and “growing reputation”.

Ince, who says he’s out to put his name “back on the map” is a player looking to revive his reputation, having fallen out of favour at the Potters who paid out an initial £10million for his services in 2019. 

But, reflecting on Jones’ comments about Luton’s standing in the game, the 29-year-old said: “Looking at it, I think people will always be surprised, especially this season. Everyone felt the rise that the club’s had through the leagues. Everyone’s caught the eye. I think there was a stat about the most goals in Europe a couple of years ago. 

“When I look at it as a football person, it’s always been an attack-minded, full throttle team and when you’re a forward player in that type of team, you always feel like you’ve got the confidence to, one, express yourself and, two, do the hard work for the team. 

“But to be a forward player and get chances and score goals, that’s what I thrive off. I think that’s what the reputation brings and you see a club that’s gone under the radar but, at the minute, is playing with such big personality. 

“Obviously , the manager’s got his own personality, that you see. The thing I’ve noticed the most is that when I come to this club, the players have that quiet sense of confidence, that sense of strong character and mentality to do well and to be against all odds. 

“I’ve been pleasantly surprised and pleased since I’ve come in and seen the direction and the way the players are playing, the hunger the attitude and that goes a long way and happy to be a part of it.”

Ince and fellow striker Elijah Adebayo were brought in on transfer deadline day – the latter as a permanent signing from Walsall – with the aim of helping Town top up their modest goal tally of 21 in the Championship this term. 

But despite this, Luton are ten points above the relegation zone and sitting in mid-table, having survived in the division on the final day of last season. 

And Ince believes Luton’s reputation speaks to one reason why the club has managed to improve.

“I’ve not been here on a day-to-day basis or seen it over a long period of time, but you just know as soon as you walk in, from the little things of timing, to the gym, everything is done to the maximum ability,” said the attacker. 

“There’s no cutting corners and the manager expects perfection out on the training pitch. The players demand that from themselves and, if you do that on a day-to-day basis, and you push each other to the limits and beyond, then you always give yourself half a chance of doing well.

“In the Championship, it’s a crazy league. Saturday, Tuesday, for most of it. Sometimes it’s down to mentality and having that extra five or ten yards when you’ve played Saturday, Tuesday for the last three weeks and you’ve got to go again. 

“I can see it it this group why this season they’ve done ever so well, because there’s that hunger amongst each other, to do well for each other and to cover each other’s backs when it’s needed.”  

He added: “It’s definitely an exciting project for me and definitely a no-brainer.

“I had the manager previously at Stoke, I know how he works, he knows what I’m capable of doing.

“But also just the fact that it’s a team full of hunger, a team full of players who have breezed through the leagues throughout the years and doing more than hold their own at this level, you can see that with the performances.

“The club deserve a lot more points than what’s on the board, but all I can do is come in and try and help the team. There’s no I, there’s nothing about me personally to come in and say, ‘this is what my aim is’.

“My aim is what the team’s aim is and to come in and help these players, help this club and try to get the team as high up the table as soon as possible.”