Results are not going Luton’s way, but Callum McManaman says he’s loving life at the club and now wants play a more prominent role in helping to turn Town’s fortunes around.
The winger, who signed on a free in the summer, came off the bench to net an eye-catching consolation as the Hatters were comfortably beaten at home by Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
It was the 28-year-old’s second goal for the club, after rescuing a point against Millwall last month, but wasn’t enough to prevent a third straight defeat, seeing them drop to fourth from bottom in the Championship.
His time at Kenilworth Road has, so far, been a fairly stop-start with a groin injury curtailing a promising beginning at a club where he’d hoped to find his spark again.
After starring in Wigan’s stunning FA Cup Final victory over Manchester City in 2013, McManaman had less memorable moves to West Bromwich Albion, Sunderland and a loan at Sheffield Wednesday before returning for a frustrating spell at the Latics.
He came to Luton on a free, looking to get his career back on track with boss Graeme Jones, who he worked with during his first spell at The DW Stadium.
“I’m enjoying it more here than all my other clubs for years, to be honest,” McManaman said, adding: “It started with the manager, because that’s why I signed, but now I’m enjoying myself. I’m loving living down here and it’s the first time I’ve lived down south and I’m settled and enjoying it.”
McManaman cites his relationship with Jones as the main reason for him joining the Hatters, saying: “As soon as I knew the gaffer was interested, I wanted to sign straight away.
“I haven’t played, so it’s not as if I’ve played and been poor. I’ve been in and out, coming off the bench. Now, obviously, I’m getting more game time this season and hopefully I can kick on now.
“I started the first few games of the season and done alright but I picked up a niggle, come back in training and picked up another little niggle and missed a few games. I want a run of games and get that back under my belt and see where we’re at.
“They’ve had me training hard. He (Jones) knows how to get the best out of me. Hopefully I can get a run in the side now and kick on. We need to start picking up points, that’s the main thing.”
Before his injuries there were little glimmers of a good relationship developing between McManaman and striker James Collins, while his strike against Forest showed the other side to his game that Jones wants to improve, with the weekend’s effort only his 23rd career goal.
He said: “I’m playing more further forward now. I’ve usually been playing on the wing, back and forward all game. Now, under this gaffer, I’m playing a bit further forward, so I’m getting more chances and more opportunities to cross and shoot.”
On his curler at the weekend, McManaman said: “I think it’s a decent finish, but obviously it means nothing with the result. All the lads are disappointed.”
Asked if he was disappointed not to keep his place on Saturday, the Liverpudlian said: “ Yeah, but last week was a tough game and we didn’t get the points. The forward players didn’t get much of the ball last week.
“Birmingham defended well and packed the midfield, so you’ve just got to keep going. Obviously, when you come on, you’ve just got to make an impact and I did, so hopefully I’ll be back in next week.”
