Rob Edwards has one space left in his 25-man squad for this season, but says there’s no pressure on Tom Lockyer to return to fill it, with Luton Town teens making up the numbers.
The Hatters captain has made no secret of his desire to play again after he returned to The Brache last month to continue his rehabilitation since suffering a cardiac arrest on the pitch against Bournemouth in December.
Though, the Welshman has been fitted with a defibrillator like the one that allowed Manchester United midfielder Christian Eriksen to return after he suffered a heart attack while playing, no decisions have been made on whether the defender will return to action.
But after the transfer window closed and then last week’s addition of free agent winger Victor Moses to Luton’s squad last week, that left boss Edwards will one vacant position in his squad.
“I don’t want to put too much pressure on Locks at the moment, but we’re aware that there’s a one space there,” said the Town manager.
“Locks has got his plan, so he’s got to keep ticking off those weeks and stick to that plan and we’ll see how he sort of shapes up in the coming months.”
Lockyer has made no secret of the fact that he wants to play again, even saying he wants to earn more international caps.
He told BBC Wales recently: “I’m really positive and happy with how things are progressing. Obviously I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself, but obviously I wish I was playing. I would love one more cap. Just one more. Just give me one more – but it’s a long way away.”
On the centre half’s ambition to play again, Edwards said: “He’s made that clear for for quite a while now. We want to try and support that, do things the right way and and we will. And Locks knows that that as well.
“And that plan, he’s on board with it. So again let’s see how things progress, but it’s brilliant having him around the training ground again and in and around the the place, the meetings, out on the the grass and seeing him. It’s brilliant.”
The year, the emergence into the first team of academy graduates Zack Nelson and Joe Johnson has afford Edwards options that, because of their ages (both 19) means that do not. Summer signing from Arsenal, Reuell Walters also fits into that category of players under the age of 21 who do not need to be listed.
Edwards said: “We’ve got good numbers in the group, obviously with three younger ones that are all been quite involved that don’t count, if you like, in the 25-man squad that you need to be able to name. There’s good numbers there.”
