Harry Cornick has now shaken off his super sub tag, according to Luton boss Graeme Jones, who believes the pace ace will improve his eye for goal.
The 24-year-old came off the bench in 39 of his 69 league appearances, scoring just 13 times before Jones’ arrival in the summer.
But this term Cornick has started the last five Championship games and netted three times, a feat which took him until November last season.
Talking about the former Bournemouth forward, Jones said: (I’m) really impressed. Harry is not a squad player, he’s not a substitute, Harry’s a guy who has been a really effective player for us, really effective.
“Harry’s starting to realise his role has changed and he’s taking responsibility for that. He’s improving and getting stronger, but he still had to come off on 80 minutes (against QPR) because his body is not used to that kind of physicality, but he gets stronger and stronger every week.
“Harry is a bright boy, he understands his role and, at the minute, he is playing in a team with the style of play that allows him to be effective.”
Cornick claimed a goal and an assist in last weekend’s 3-2 defeat at QPR, with Jones saying afterwards that the attacker is now fully at home as a Championship player.
The speedy star admitted last term that he needed to improve in front of goal and he admitted that work still continues on the training pitch, this season, with Jones insisting repetition is the key for Cornick .
Jones said: “I’m from a school of I think you can improve everybody. Whether that’s temporary or permanent, they’ll decide by the amount of homework they keep working at.
“When it’s unnatural, that needs to be repetitive work and we’ve done some work with Harry on correct technical selection. Sometimes, in front of goal, you see strikers, if it comes on their left foot, they try to use the outside of their right foot.
“It has to be the right technical selection at the right time, but I think it’s quite simple. I make sure that they get punished if they don’t hit the target and, worst case, you’ve got to hit the target as a striker to give yourself a chance. It’s a simple theory and I think he’s benefitted from that.”
In transforming Cornick from an impact player, using his pace in the latter stages of games, to effecting games from the beginning, Jones admitted he’d seen something in Cornick over the summer and the back end of last term when he had a watching brief as a scout.
“He’s a bright boy,” said the Town boss, adding: “He’s intelligent, he gets it, so if you give him any kind of tactics, he takes it on board.
“Obviously, he’s got a physical aspect that can hurt anybody, with the pace he’s got, but he’s better technically than anyone gives him credit for.
“I think his appreciation has improved and his mentality is getting better with every game, because I think, when you’re a regular starter you have to take responsibility for your performances and results, and he’s started to understand that. He’s contributed hugely since the opening game against Middlesbrough.”
