With Luton experiencing a defender shortage, Gabriel Osho is “in the mix” to feature against Aston Villa on Sunday after making the bench at Nottingham Forest and playing 60 minutes of a development squad game against Notts County in midweek.
The popular centre half has not featured at all this season after undergoing surgery in the summer on a knee problem, but with hamstring injuries to Mads Andersen, Amari’i Bell, Reece Burke and Dan Potts, Osho may soon get a Premier League debut.
Burke was the latest to suffer the injury when he was pulled out of the 2-2 comeback draw at the City Ground last week when Issa Kaboré was given the nod ahead of Osho to him.
“He’s in my plans,” said the Hatters chief of his returning defender ahead of the trip to Villa Park, adding: “He was on the bench last week so I saw him as fit enough to play so he’s certainly in the mix.
“He’s a naturally really good athlete and he’s someone that can come in and get up to speed with Premier League football really quickly.
“He gives us a good option now with Mads, Burkey and Amari’i out a moment, Pottsy as well, longer term. it was important to have him back amongst it.”
After playing an hour for the development squad on Tuesday, his first taste of action since the Championship play-off final, Osho told the club’s website that his spell on the sidelines has been “probably been the most difficult time of my career.”
Speaking of the impact getting back into match action for the defender, boss Edwards said: “I think it was probably more important for him. It’s just a little bit of confidence for him to be honest.
“He was fit and ready anyway but it’s probably a little bit more confidence for him to get through some minutes in the game, so it was good for him. We were able to look after him for a couple of days and then he was able to train today which was his plan.
“It wasn’t something we necessarily forced him to go through and do but I think it was good for him and his mental state as well stop.”
Speaking of his return in midweek, Osho told the club’s website: “The first game back was weird as I felt nervous – I mean the night before I was looking up the names of Notts County’s reserve team players! However, it was good to be back out there, ease those nerves and now I can build on this to get back in the team and make a difference.”
On the injury itself, Osho added: “Credit to everyone who has helped me, the staff were amazing to get on top of everything. Of course, it would have been ideal for me had we beaten Exeter to have another game to get back into the rhythm but I’m looking forward to get up to full speed as quickly as possible.”
And speaking of his return to the first-team bench last weekend, the 25-year-old added: “It was great, when you’re on the bench the game seems to go so fast when you’re not involved. However, the boys were brilliant. Saturday was a great experience, especially to see them claw it back and now I want to be a part of it from the pitch now.
“The Premier League definitely seems faster when you’re watching games in the flesh, especially the movement of players – so it’s something I’m looking forward to being a part of now.
“We are where we want to be and I think if anyone said you would be 17th after nine games, we take that so now we are all looking to build on that.”
