Luton boss Nathan Jones faces former side Stoke City for the first time since he was sacked 11 months ago.
The Hatters play host, having gone into the international break with a victory over Wycombe Wanderers, which sees them in the Championship play-off positions after four games.
There’s the carrot of leapfrogging arch-rivals Watford who moved ahead of Town after last night’s 1-0 win over Derby County.
Here’s the rundown of the big talking points and what Jones said in his pre-match press conference.
No hard feelings
Jones said: “I’m not looking to get one over on Stoke for any reason other than the fact we get three points and that is genuine.
“I’ve got no malice, no vendetta, no bitterness whatsoever, it is just another game and I actually went into the Wycombe game feeling real pressure. I thought it was a game we needed to win because without being disrespectful, we beat Wycombe at lower levels consistently and I felt we needed to do that again.
“This is slightly different but I want to win the game exactly the same, it’s not anything on the game apart from three points and I genuinely mean that. I can say that, hand on heart. It is nice to see a lot of people, it will be nice to win but it will be nice to win because I enjoy winning.”
Respect for Stoke’s owners
“It’s stellar, as good as it can be,” said Jones of his relationship with the Coates family.
“First of all I was very grateful to them giving me the opportunity, they could have chosen anyone and the list they interviewed was a very strong list so I felt very privileged to get the job but throughout it, we had a great relationship.
“Even walking out the building, it was a fantastic relationship, they gave me opportunity, they gave me every bit of time that was deserved so absolutely no malice towards them, they’re wonderful people and I really do respect them.
“I get on with them and as I said I really wish Stoke all the best apart from when they come up against Luton and that is genuine.”
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger
“Hindsight is a wonderful thing,” said Jones when asked if his move to Stoke came at the wrong time.
“I’ve learned a lot from my experiences, I have said in interviews this week it is a wonderful learning curve for me to go in and I’m actually a better manager coming back into Luton than I was going out, even though my record at Luton going into Stoke was wonderful. but my record at Stoke coming into Luton the second time was poor.
“I’m actually a better manager, a lot more prepared for the trials and tribulations of management for that experience. If you look back, you think if and whats.
“Would I change it? The only thing I would really change is the manner of the exit (from Luton in January 2019) as I have said. The rest is all about life and learning curve, I’m in a wonderful place now and I am very grateful to be given the opportunity to come back to this wonderful club. We’re in a good place so it’s all god’s work.”
Squad availability
Welsh international defender Tom Lockyer’s knee injury saw him miss out on Ryan Giggs’ squad for the UEFA Nations League victory over Bulgaria, draw against the Republic of Ireland and the friendly defeat to England
The centre back also missed Luton’s win over Wycombe, but he’s available for the Stoke clash.
Jones said: “We had to just take him out of the Wycombe game to enable him to move forward to be in a far better place and he is in a far better place now. Games coming up thick and fast so we are going to need that depth.”
And there’s positive news for full backs James Bree and Dan Potts, who are yet to feature this term.
Jones said: “They’re both back on the grass training. Potts is slightly ahead of Bree, so we have a decision really but I think with another week we would get pretty much everyone back, it’s just one or two the games have come a little early but we’re in a good place.”
Congested fixture schedule
The Stoke clash is the first of seven games in 21 days for Town – six in the Championship – and Jones said: “It is berserk. It’s the world we live in at the minute.
“I’m really disappointed that they haven’t helped us out in terms of substitutions, but we keep harping on about that.
“Apart from that, it is how it is in terms of the league fixtures. It has been nice having this two weeks, not because it has been a break but because we have put some real work in to them and developed.
“Hopefully we’ve got better but only time will tell. We are going to need the squad because as I said, six games is like a post-lockdown again, we’re going to need everyone.”
