Chiedozie Ogbene will not feature for Luton Town in tomorrow night’s crucial Everton clash, but Gabriel Osho, Ross Barkley and Elijah Adebayo are all available, with the latter coming in for some praise from manager Rob Edwards.
It means the Hatters will have the same squad they had for the 2-1 defeat at Wolves last weekend as they bid to beat the Toffees for the third time this term, in all competitions, and reignite their Premier League survival hopes.
The Merseysiders are safe from the drop now after three straight victories and clean sheets, so the clash is not the relegation six-pointer it may have been a fortnight ago, but Town remain in the bottom three, one point behind Nottingham Forest.
Victory for Luton would lift them above the Reds at least until Saturday afternoon when Forest play already relegated Sheffield United.
There had been hope that Republic of Ireland international Ogbene would return from injury to face Everton, after Adebayo ended two months on the sidelines at Molineux at the weekend, but asked about the winger, Luton boss Edwards said: “He’s still not ready.”
However, Adebayo made a 15-minute cameo appearance at Wolves was a positive for Town, with the goalscorer making an instant impact and Edwards said the striker is fit enough to start against the Toffees.
“If he starts he probably wouldn’t be able to get through the whole game,” said the manager. “There’s an element of risk on every player now. We haven’t got a crystal ball and we don’t know, but he’s in a position where he feels good to go. Obviously then we’ve got to make the right call on it.”
On Adebay’s return last week, the manager said: “He made an immediate impact. I thought he looked really positive. He won the corner for the goal and just this physical attributes cause one or two problems and obviously make people think a little bit more.
“But it’s not just that. We’ve missed Eli’s energy and his pressing, defending and attacking set-pieces and his physicality.
“He doesn’t get enough credit for his brain as well. He’s very tactically aware, Eli. When we’re having meetings he always knows the answer.
“He probably doesn’t get enough credit for how bright and intelligent he is as well.”
Barkley was withdrawn against Wolves, but Edwards confirmed that the influential midfielder is fit to face his boyhood club.
“It was a tactical thing,” Edwards said of the 30-year-old’s substitution on Saturday, adding: “He felt the back of his knee a little bit, earlier on in the game, so I don’t think he was quite able to be his full self, but he’s been fine this week, trained fine and no problems at all.”
Defender Osho was another Hatter who looked to be playing in pain against Wanderers, but has been managed through the week and is available.
“He was (struggling),” said Edward of the centre back, adding: ”I said after the game the three of them (central defenders) were feeling quite a bit. Gabe, we’ve had to manage throughout the week but he’s come through today, so he’ll be fine to go.”
