Luton Town assistant manager Chris Powell believes the Hatters are beginning to show the identity Jack Wilshere wants despite being held to a 2-2 pre-season draw by Barnet on Saturday.
The Bees came from behind at The Hive as Town had to settle for a draw in their second friendly of the summer, with Wilshere’s side now in Spain for a week-long training camp before stepping up preparations for the new League One season.
The hosts took the lead but Luton levelled through Nakhi Wells and took the lead through young academy prospect Jayden Luker only for Kabongo Tshimanga to equalise for Barnet.
While disappointed not to come away with a victory, Powell felt there were plenty of positives to take from another valuable run-out.
“[It’s] another good workout adding to what we’ve done over the last two weeks,” he to LTFC+.
“Forty-five minutes for 99 per cent of the guys, just Chigzie [Christian Chigozie] stayed on a little bit longer.
“It’s a shame we didn’t win. You always want to win, regardless of what football game you’re playing and who you’re playing against.
“I think in the first half we had opportunities to really sort of get away from Barnet and didn’t take them, but that’s what this game’s for.
“It’s about trying to sharpen and tune up what we’ve been working on during the week.”
Despite making wholesale changes during the game with different elevens in each half, Powell believes supporters are already starting to see Wilshere’s style taking shape with the patterns of play that they’ve been working on.
“Jack’s really big on that, and us as staff – Tim [Corcoran], Dave [Bridges], the two Kevins [Foley and Pilkington] and myself – we all sing from the same song sheet with regards to how they’ve got to play and how they’ve got to develop.
“Not only as a team, but as units, and the relationships between the full-backs and wingers.
“You always get different things happening in games like this because you’re changing so many players and mixing the teams.
“So there are a lot of things we like and a lot of things we can develop and build on.”
Powell also provided an update on the fitness of new loan signing Harrison Ashby and Mads Andersen, who both missed the friendly.
“Both got knocks in training, so that’s a precaution,” he said. “They’re out. Hopefully they’re short term, not too long term.
“Both will come with us to Spain, so hopefully they’ll be OK to take part, but we’ll see what happens with them.”
The Hatters have now begun a week’s worth of training in Spain, where Powell says the focus will be on building the foundations for the long campaign ahead.
“We’ve got a good base, but now we’ve got to add to it as a group,” he said. “That’s doing some double sessions and some hard work in the heat.
“It’s all good because the outcome is the season. We’re building for nine or ten months, so you build it now.
“We’re very aware of what we want to do this year. We want to add to what we did last year and we’re looking good at the moment.
“But we’ve still got time and a few weeks to really get ourselves in top shape for the first game.”
One player hoping to hit the ground running after a first six months at Kenilworth Road is midfielder Sverre Sandal.
The Norwegian joined Luton in January but was restricted to just a handful of appearances, and admitted he is eager to finally show supporters what he can do.
“I’m feeling good,” Sandal said. “I’m much better now and I think it’s good training, playing matches and training hard. I think we’re making steps and preparing for the season to come.”
With a full pre-season behind him for the first time since arriving in Bedfordshire, Sandal believes he is in a much stronger position heading into the new campaign.
“These pre-season games are one thing now. I want to go out and play real games,” he said.
“I feel good and it’s good to be with the boys and play matches. This is what I came to do.
“Unfortunately, I know the Luton fans haven’t seen enough of me at all, so I’m hoping to show a lot in the games and the season to come.”
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