‘These are the moments you dream of,’ says Isted after biggest game of his life against Chelsea

A man of the match display against Chelsea, four years after his last appearance, was the biggest game Harry Isted has ever played in and a moment he’s dreamed of – and now the goalkeeper is ready for anything. 

The 24-year-old is in his fifth season with the Hatters but has only ever played two first-team Town games in the Checkatrade Trophy, the last of which was a 3-0 win against MK Dons in 2018, but was so long ago he couldn’t remember the opponent. 

Isted was on loan last season with non-league Wealdstone, with his last appearance there coming in a 2-2 draw against Bromley back in April 2021. And, this term, he’s been third choice keeper, deputising for James Shea, the now transfer departed Simon Sluga and his loan replacement Jed Steer.

But 14 minutes into last night’s televised 3-2 FA Cup fifth round defeat to the European and World Club Cup Champions, with Luton 1-0 up, the Aston Villa stopper crumbled to the ground and was stretchered off with suspected Achilles heel damage. 

James Shea was rested due to a tight hamstring, so that saw Isted thrown in at the deep end, where he pulled off a series of eye-catching saves to keep the Blues and bay and help the Hatters to a 2-1 half time lead. 

“It hasn’t sunk in at all,” said the young keeper, who also revealed that Sluga – who left for Ludogorets in January – had sent him a congratulatory text.

“My mum and dad were in the crowd, my best mate there. These are the moments you dream of and doing it in front of your family as well. I’ll go and see my mum and dad after this and mum will probably be crying. They’ve done a lot for me and it’s nice to repay them with a little cameo out there.”

He’s rarely even been on the bench, but he grabbed the opportunity with two safe gloves, saying: “There’s always a chance of you coming on. I didn’t want to come on in those circumstances with Jed, but you’re always ready. You still prepare the night before and in the week.”

Isted’s contract expired last summer and it looked like his chance to ever play again for Luton had gone, but after a month away, the club signed him again for another year. 

Asked if, in that period, he thought a night like last night may never happen, Isted said: “You always think about it, especially when you’re on the bench. I’ve played in the Checkatrade twice and this is the biggest game I’ve played in ever. You do think about scenarios; ‘am I going to get on?’ You paint scenarios in your head but you’ve just always got to be ready. 

“I was ready to come on. I felt confident in my ability to come on, settle in well and put on a good performance.

“It’s been tough, but I’ve got a good support team around me. I’ve got Sheasy (Shea), Jed and the two Kevs (coaches Dearden and Pilkington). I’ve been with Deardo for a while now and he’s always motivating me, keeping me going, even if he sees me down. It is a bit tough, but it’s what I signed up for, so I can’t complain.” 

But even despite his contract situation last summer, asked if he thought his Hatters days were numbered, Isted said: “Not really. I knew I was coming to be the third choice and I couldn’t go on loan because I was proper third choice, unlike the few seasons before. 

“You never know what’s going to happen with football. Football’s a funny game so I’ve got to push myself in training and be ready for night’s like tonight.”

In his last taste of first-team action, Isted picked the ball out of the net after goals by Bromley’s Byron Webster and Michale Cheek. But last night, he came did likewise – though through no fault of his own – after Chelsea’s £150million worth of attacking talent in Chelsea’s Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner had overturned Town’s lead to end their FA Cup dream. 

“It’s a little bit of a difference,” said the keeper, of facing the Belgian and German internationals, adding: “Obviously, you watch these players on the tele. It’s unreal.”

This time Isted was on the nation’s televisions and he said: “It was absolutely unreal. I tried to block it out a little bit and concentrate, get my head down and try to focus on my job, but the crowd were great.”

There were some saves he’ll be able to rewatch again and again, which led boss Nathan Jones to call his performance “absolutely outstanding”, and Isted said: “In the first half, I got lucky with the first one. He actually hit it at me, but the two ones after that, saves. It’s my job. 

“This is my fifth season here and I’ve been training in the first-team environment for five years in League Two, League One and Championship, so I know that I can step up to the plate when needed. I haven’t been needed much, but it’s good to come in and I feel confident any time I come on to the pitch.” 

And now, if Shea doesn’t recover from his hamstring issue, Isted could cap an already landmark week for himself by making his league debut for Luton when they travel to Middlesbrough for a Championship promotion six-pointer on Saturday.

“I’m ready for whatever,” he said, adding: “If I’m needed, I’m happy to step up, and I’m confident and comfortable to step up but that’s obviously the gaffer’s choice.”