New signing Lasse Nordås will be on the substitutes’ bench for Luton’s trip to Sunderland tomorrow night with mixed fortunes among some of the club’s injured players.
After an 11-day break, the Hatters resume their fight against relegation at the promotion-chasing Black Cats and their Stadium of Light home, where the hosts have gone unbeaten this season.
Town have also not won on Wearside for 52 years, but go to the north-east having finally ended a 12-game losing streak on the road.
The Hatters also make the trip having had a busy transfer window, welcoming eight new players to the club, the last of which was Nordås, who they signed on transfer deadline day from Norwegian side Tromsø.
The Nordic divisions are on their off-season, and the 23-year-old’s final game of their campaign came on December 1, so he wasn’t expected to be a starter straight away.
But Luton boss Matt Bloomfield said: “He’s in the squad tomorrow night. He won’t be starting. We’ve obviously got big Eli [Adebayo] and Carlton [Morris] as the main two number nines at this moment in time who are lads of extreme experience and they’re really they’re fit and they’re ready to go.”
Bloomfield added of Nordås: “[He’s] someone [we’re] going to have to build up. But we really believe that he can complement those guys at the right time.”
Two players that missed Town’s last game at Hillsborough were Amari’i Bell and Isiah Jones. The former had a hamstring issue and Bloomfield said “Amari’i’s been back in training. He’s missed, a couple of days with illness as well, but he’s been training. We’re building him up with his with hamstring.
“He’s obviously had a big couple of injuries over the last year or two that we’ve got to be careful with his hamstrings, but he’s been training, Missed a couple of days with illness, but he’s been contributing in training.”
Jones – who was Town’s first signing of the January transfer window, arriving just before Bloomfield took the reins – missed the trip to Sheffield due to a family matter.
The manager said: “He’s been back training. He’s had a couple of personal bits that we spoke about before. His training has been a little bit intermittent, but he’s training well and we’ve got good competition for places.”
And there is positive news for two of Town’s long-term injured players. Midfielder Shandon Baptiste hasn’t featured since November 30, and though he won’t be available for the game at Sunderland, he is nearing a return to action.
“Shandon’s back in training, so we hope to welcome back very, very soon,” said Bloomfield.
“Tomorrow night has come too soon for him, but he’s back in the group, and he’s obviously a real good player, Shandon, so we’re really happy that he’s back on the grass again, competing for place in midfield. Tomorrow night’s come too soon for him, but we think that his return is not too far away.”
Defender Reece Burke’s last game was three days before Baptiste’s but he hasn’t featured since November 27 and has only made 10 appearances this term.
Bloomfield said: “He’s back out on the grass. He’s a bit behind Shandon, but not too far behind. We try not to put too much hope and pressure on his shoulders, but he’s been working. He’s a real hard worker, Burkey. I like him a lot. He’s always in the meetings, always taking an interest in what the team’s doing and what we want from the players.
“Even though he’s not been fit, he’s been really present. I think he’s probably the right way to put it. a really present character, really influential character around the football club, someone who’s obviously been really highly thought of here for a little while now.”
However, the attack-minded Tahith Chong is not as far advanced in his recovery from a hamstring issue.
“He’s not in training yet, Tahith,” said Bloomfield, adding: “He’s still working his way back with the medical staff, still going to be a little bit.
“He’s been doing a little bit out on the grass, but not as far along as Shandon and Burke. So we’ve still got to wait for him for a little bit. But again, [he’s] someone who’s been a big part of this football club success over the last couple of years, and we hope to have him back.”
The fans’ view…
Here is an episode of the Luton Town Supporters’ Trust Podcast, reflecting on the challenges of facing Sunderland.
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