Dan Potts has just marked his 200th appearance for Luton Town but believes he’s only just establishing himself in a new role that he always felt destined for.
The defender is the club’s second longest-serving player behind Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu after he followed the midfielder from West Ham United to the then newly-promoted Football League club in 2015.
For most of his seven years at Kenilworth Road, he’s been used as a left-back, but the departure of Kal Naismith to Bristol City in the summer has given him the opportunity to cement the left centre-back role that boss Nathan Jones long believed he is more suited to.
“I agree it’s definitely my strongest position,” said Potts, adding: “I spoke to Nathan a lot in pre-season about that, in terms of that being my strongest position, with the way we play now.
“Obviously, in League Two and League One, we played a four with the diamond and left back was naturally the best position for me.
“I’ve always known, growing up, that I’ve got the skill set and being able to read the game from that deeper role. It has suited me.
“I don’t think it’s a thing that, as you get older, you move infield more, but with the experience of playing the game, I think it can help.”
And in the absence of captain Sonny Bradley for much of the season so far, Potts has been entrusted with the skipper’s armband and he led the team out for Tuesday’s 3-3 draw with Huddersfield, which made him a double centurion for the Hatters.
“I’ve been here a while now and it has been a long time coming, that marker, but it has flown by.
“It’s mad to think what we’ve achieved over the years and the way the club has developed. It is a real proud achievement to play 200 games and hopefully a few more to come.”
Injuries have at times limited his contribution. Most notably, a spell on the sidelines in the League One promotion season handed James Justin an opportunity. The hometown hero excelled to such an extent, playing 52 times, that he earned Luton a record transfer fee in his move to Premier League Leicester in the summer of 2019.
For Town’s first season in the Championship, Potts played 34 times, but that reduced to 24 games the following season and 12 last term, as Amari’i Bell made the left back role his own.
But, this term, Potts has already matched that appearance total and he’s become one of the first names on the team sheet, crucially avoiding injury so far.
He said: “Recently, touch wood, I’ve had some good chats with the physios and I’ve spoken to a few specialists over the course of the last 12 months that have really helped me.
“I’ve, physically, stayed fit and away from injuries, so long may that continue. I always look back and think, if I didn’t have this or that, but I try not to dwell on it too much, stay in the present and look forward. They’re all learning experiences, for sure.”
Potts and Mpanzu have, however, been closely linked to Luton’s rise up the leagues, with the defender Potts enjoying two promotions. Asked what moment has stood out, amidst that sustained period of success, the defender said: “The actual one that does stand out, and it always has to this day, is Notts County away when we got promoted (to League One).
“After the game, on the pitch. It was a lovely day. The whole away stand was full and we just stood there in a big line and took it all in.
“At the time, you don’t really embrace and take in those moments until you look back on them later down the line.
“That’s the one, and obviously there have been some unbelievable days, times and memories but, for some reason, that one always sticks in my mind.”
Potts was signed by former manager John Still, who is widely credited with kick-starting Town’s current era, by ending their five-year spell in the non-league.
“I’ve sort of seen it all,” said Potts, adding: “The transition from John Still’s time, Ely Way (Luton’s former training site) to where we are now with Nathan. “I’m sure, later on down the line, when I look back I will have real fond memories.
“(I’m) doing something right to have stayed. It is quite rare now to be at one club for as long as I have. It shows that the manager and staff have faith in me and long may it continue.”
He added: “There have been some great lads that have come and gone and I’ve made some great relationships with people, not just on the football basis.
“I’ve met some really good people and that is one thing with this club, players come and go but a lot of the staff have been here for a long time as well.
“Sheez (Alan Sheehan – first-team coach) has moved up into the staff as well. I played with Sheez.”
Asked if he always believed Luton would get to the Championship when he joined Town in the first season back in the Football League, Potts said: “Yeah. It is always easy to drop down the levels in terms of the football pyramid but the people I’ve spoken to, especially when I was younger, they always said how hard it is to get back up the levels and the leagues.
“But for the club to have done what it has done should never be underestimated and whoever has put the Luton shirt on and contributed to that has done the club proud and themselves proud.
“There are not many stories like it in football and hopefully we can go one better as well.
“Every year has been an improvement. It’s a results business but you have to look at the positions and what we have done over the years in the Championship.
“That momentum has carried through from League Two and League One and that can’t be underestimated.”
