Luton boss Rob Edwards’ plans to stop treble-winning Manchester City on Sunday have been boosted by the return to fitness of a key trio.
The manager has had to deal with a number of injuries in recent months. In Tuesday night’s last-gasp 4-3 defeat to Premier League leaders Arsenal, he fielded a relatively young backline, while Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu stepped up to captain the club with a senior stars not fit or moved the bench.
Town have conceded seven in their last two top-flight games and arguably their toughest test yet comes against Pep Guardiola’s men and the goalscoring prowess of star striker Erling Haaland.
To help try and thwart a City side that has not won in four games – and their manager has never gone five straight matches without victory – Luton hope to welcome back captain Tom Lockyer.
The central defender suffered a back injury in last week’s defeat at Brentford and missed the midweek reverse against Arsenal.
Edwards said: “I’m hoping that Locks will be back involved, which will be really good for us.
“There are one or two that we’re hoping to be alright and people will see from the team sheet if we are struggling, but I’m hoping we’ll be as we were but with the addition of Locks and obviously losing Issa Kaboré.
The Burkino Faso international s ineligible due to his loan from parent club City. But the Hatters have also been boosted by the return to fitness of midfield duo Marvelous Nakamba and Albert Sambi Lokonga.
The former hasn’t featured since the Manchester United defeat before the International break, while Arsenal’s Lokonga only made two appearances before pulling out of the draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers with a hamstring injury in September.
“They trained today, so that’s a real positive for us,” said Edwards. “Sambi’s obviously been out for a long time and has not had loads of minutes, so we’ve got to be sensible with how we integrate him back into it, but he is available.”
Town will also continue to monitor the fitness of winger Chiedozie Ogbene who started on the bench against Arsenal and is playing through the pain with a foot injury that has limited his ability to train since the international break last month.
Elsewhere, Luton’s injury woes are starting to ease and while they won’t be ready to face City, there is more positive news for defenders Reece Burke and Mads Andersen, while Cauley Woodrow is closer to a return to training.
Edwards said: “Burkey is very, very close. Mads is progressing well and is very close to full training as well.
“(Dan) Potts has had a setback. We’re still assessing that one and trying to get to the bottom of it.”
