Luton will be without Sambi Lokonga and Elijah Adebayo for the visit of FA Cup holders Manchester City in the fifth round tomorrow, but have been boosted by the availability of two other Hatters and the news that one midfielder may not play again this season.
Midfielder Lokonga was withdrawn at half time during the 4-1 Premier League defeat to Liverpool on Wednesday, while top scorer Adebayo broke down in the warm-up before the defeat to Manchester United in the weekend before.
Both players have hamstring injuries, but Lokonga revealed over the weekend via his Instagram page that scans had been positive and asked about the length of the Arsenal loanee’s absence, Edwards said: “Hopefully not too long. Hopefully it’s only a couple of weeks.
“We had good news on the scan, but the injury is there and we’ve got to make sure that he feels right and he’s strong and ready to go. This one will clearly be too early tomorrow. He’ll probably be touch and go for the weekend.
“We were concerned. After the game, we didn’t know how bad it was. It’s good that it doesn’t seem too big of an issue, but it’s in an area where we’ve still got to be careful because if we push too hard, too soon, then it could make something worse. So, we’ll have to get the timing right.
“It’s frustrating because you’ve seen how influential he’s been, and how good his performances have been. We’ve got to get it right on that one. We can’t push him too soon, but we’ve got to try to push because every game is really important now.
“He’s been excellent. He’s a really good footballer and he’s been showing everyone how good he is.”
Adebayo has been missing for the last two games and he won’t be available to face Manchester City, who he scored against in the league in December.
Luton are hopeful he’ll be available to face Aston Villa in the Premier League at the weekend.
“We hope he will be (available),” said Edwards, adding: “He’s not be training with us yet, so time is running out on that one.”
With forward Jacob Brown out for a lengthy time with a knee injury, Edwards confirmed that there’s no possibility of bringing Joe Taylor back from his loan at Lincoln City outside of the transfer window.”
Edwards also tempered excitement of fans after midfielder Marvelous Nakamba last week posted promising footage of himself back in light training, after his knee surgery at the end of last year.
Edwards said: “It’s still very early stages of it at the moment. Whether we get him back before the end of the season is very touch and go, I think, on that one.
“It’s always been a concern since he did it. We said it was going to go deep into it, we said it was going to be months. I don’t want to put any more pressure on him at the moment. He’s working hard but he’s still very early stages, biking and things like that at the moment.”
But Alfie Doughty, who also injured himself at Anfield on Wednesday is clear to play Manchester City, while the FA Cup clash could present Daiki Hashioka with his debut, particularly as loan defender Issa Kabore is ineligible to play against his parent club.
“I’ve been really pleased with him,” Edwards said of Town’s January signing, Hasioko. “He’s getting up to speed really well. The lads like him. He actually scored a volley in training the other day when he was on the other team and we were preparing for one of the games in the last week or two.
“A defensive clearance came out and he scored a volley from the edge of the box and it was great. It’s good for him but I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at the time because I was working with the team that we were working on and he scored a brilliant volley. The lads started celebrating with him.
“He’s a really good lad and has fitted in straight away. Good qualities, and all of the stuff I said when we signed him. He’s very aggressive in his defending, really front-footed with his defending as well, and wants to take the ball. He’s certainly going to help us going forwards.”
