Luton Town boss Matt Bloomfield says Zack Nelson has a “big opportunity” to nail down a first-team role this season after the Hatters missed out on adding extra midfield reinforcements on transfer deadline day.
With speculation linking Town to Bolton’s Aaron Morley and Barnsley’s Adam Phillips failing to result in new arrivals on the final day of the window, the 20-year-old’s breakthrough recent form — including his first League One start and goal in the 3-0 win at Burton Albion, plus another standout display in the 4-1 Vertu Trophy victory over Barnet — has pushed him firmly into the manager’s thinking.
Nelson, who joined the Hatters’ academy in 2020, has progressed through the youth ranks into the senior set-up, making his debut in the Premier League, with two top-flight cameo appearances before playing 23 times in the Championship last term and also earning five caps for England Under-21s.
Town boss Bloomfield has been an admirer of the former Tottenham schoolboy since he arrived at Kenilworth Road in January. Though the youngster had to bide his time, coming off the bench in the opening six games of the season, he took his starting chance at Burton.
He backed that up with another strong showing in last week’s 4-1 Vertu Trophy victory over Barnet 24-hours after a busy transfer deadline day for the Hatters where they were linked with midfielders Aaron Morely from Bolton and Barnsley’s Adam Phillips.
George Saville, a more defensively minded midfielder, and 18-year-old prospect Jake Richards were signed earlier in the summer, but no more midfielders arrived before the window shut last Monday, despite losing the creative midfield talents of Thelo Aasgaard who transferred to Glasgow Rangers in July.
At Burton, Nelson was given a similar role to that given to the Norwegian international last term and his goal and performance could be the opening that he needs to stake a claim as a regular Luton starter.
“Ever since I got here, I’ve thought a lot of Zack,” Bloomfield said. “He’s had to be a little bit patient, and maybe we could have given him a bit more football sooner, but he was developing and the team was in a [relegation] situation at the end of last season.
“We’ve been really excited with the work he’s done pre-season. I think a lot of him, he’s now got an opportunity in front of him. If he keeps playing like he did on Saturday [August 30] and [last Tuesday] evening, then he can grab it with both hands.”
Bloomfield was quick to stress that the club will manage the youngster carefully, but made clear his belief in Nelson’s talent.
“He’s still a young player, so we’ve got to be really careful not to heap our whole season on his shoulders. It’s not that,” he said, adding: “But I believe in him a lot. I think he’s an incredible young man. I think he works incredibly hard at his game. He’s got so much ability and energy and a forward attacking intent. Yeah, he’s got a big opportunity with us this season.”
Nelson’s performance at Burton last month drew praise from the Luton Town Supporters’ Trust Podcast and you can watch that episode here…
