Aribim People will be in Luton’s squad to face former loan club Grimsby in the FA Cup fourth-round replay tomorrow night, as boss Rob Edwards eyes changes after two Championship wins.
Town signed the 20-year-old striker from Canadian Premier League outfit Cavalry FC in the summer and then loaned him to the League Two Mariners where he made 15 appearances in all competitions, but didn’t score.
People is yet to make his Hatters debut, but after he was recalled from Blundell Park last month, that could change on his first trip back to Cleethorpes.
Edwards said: “He is, great guy, fantastic athlete, he’s just learning all the time. (He) trained well this morning, so it could be an opportunity for him at some stage tomorrow, he will be in the squad tomorrow.”
Goalkeeper James Shea will also keep his place in the squad after being a surprise name on the bench for Saturday’s 1-0 league win over Stoke.
The former Arsenal stopper suffered a serious knee injury at Cardiff in April last season but after Harry Isted left on loan for Barnsley in the transfer window with the permanent signing of Jack Walton coming the other way, it was Shea chosen as back-up keeper at the weekend.
“He will be involved,” said Edwards of the 30-year-old’s chances at Grimsby tomorrow night.
“(It’s) brilliant for him, he’s worked so, so hard. His return to training and being involved has been sped up in a safe way because he’s reacted so well and done so well in the training.
“(I’m) delighted to have him in and amongst it. Jack (Walton) should be back very quickly as well so we have real competition in that area which is really good for us.”
The FA Cup clash will come too soon for defender Dan Potts, who has missed the last two games with a knee injury.
Edwards said: “Pottsy will be the one that was out from the weekend that will still be out. He’s progressing well, shouldn’t be too much longer and we’re hoping to get him back involved for the games next week. Coventry might be too soon for him, we will see.”
A trip to struggling Premier League Southampton to face his under-pressure Luton predecessor Nathan Jones is the prize for Edwards if Town can get past Grimsby at the second time of asking. But on the back of a busy three-game week, the manager says his use his squad.
“Saturday is the first time I had to leave people out of the squad who are fit,” he said, adding: “There is real competition now, we can have nine subs, we have some people that were involved on Saturday that are ineligible.
“There will be changes to the overall squad, no doubt, because there has to be. (There’s) real competition though and that is what you want at this stage. There are games coming thick and fast, people who are chomping at the bit and difficult decisions which is great for me.”
Asked if he’ll take the opportunity to rotate his team, Edwards said: “It is something we will certainly consider. I’m really lucky because we’ve got a really good squad that is really competitive and there has been some very good performances individually recently and team performances as well.
“You want to try and keep that rhythm going but at the same time you’ve just come back off the three difficult games. We’ve got this one now which I recognise is a very difficult game and a really big game that we value.
“Then we have a really tough week next week with three important league games again. We have to manage the group as best as possible but at the same time the message is the same – we want to win the game.”
