Kal Naismith’s place in the Luton Town side is under scrutiny after a difficult night at Leyton Orient, yet Jack Wilshere insists his captain remains central to what the team needs right now.
The skipper was involved in a series of mistakes in Tuesday’s 1-1 draw at Leyton Orient, including one that led to the Londoners’ goal, and was booed by some travelling supporters, although he notably walked past them with his hands raised in apology.
Wilshere made clear that one poor performance does not alter how he views the defender, stressing that his leadership and character remain vital ahead of Saturday’s home match against bottom-placed Port Vale.
Asked if he faces a decision on whether to start Naismith, the manager said: “I always face that decision with every player really and maybe there’s been a few players that have played the majority of them since I’ve been here and Kal’s been one of them.
“Yeah of course he was disappointed in himself the other night, but if I’m a Luton fan and I look at my club captain, I want that type of character. And I also think the team’s in a place where we need him and we need that type of character. We need someone who will stand up.
“He needs to perform better and he knows that. But we also need his leadership qualities, which he’s been outstanding with.”
But if Wilshere’s decision was to remove the captain from the team tomorrow, he said it would not affect the Scot, but he would only make that call after speaking to the defender directly.
“I don’t think it would affect him that much because of the personality he is the character he is,” the Hatters boss said. “I’ve got a great relationship with him, so I would never do something without speaking to him first and seeing how that would land. But as much as we were disappointed with him the other night, he’s been outstanding and players are allowed a bad game and it can happen.
“It’s about how you respond then. I quite like what he did with the fans after as well. Walking off that way didn’t have to walk off that way. That probably shows you the person he is. But, yeah, one disappointing game doesn’t change our opinion on him. We want him to be consistent and he has up to the other night.”
Wilshere also added that Naismith’s commitment to the club has never been in doubt.
“He cares he cares so much about this club and probably like a lot of the fans care so much and they’re frustrated with how things have gone over the last two years,” he said. “I know he came back to try and help the team stay in the Championship last year and my first conversations with him when I got the job, I couldn’t believe how much he wanted to come back, how much he wanted to help.
“So he’s trying everything he can to try and help the team. And of course if the fans are behind him that gives him a little bit of energy to try and give the players a little bit more energy around him.”
Wilshere also confirmed that Jake Richards and Hakeem Odoffin will both miss the Port Vale match. Richards has tonsillitis while Odoffin remains sidelined by a minor training injury.
“Jake is ill. He had a sore throat I think it’s tonsillitis which is frustrating for him frustrating for us,” the Town chief said. “We have to remember he’s young and we have to look after him. He’s done really well since I’ve been in. He’s a player we obviously really like and think can help the team but we also have to look after him so he’s not available.
“Haks is the same, he’s not available. He injured himself in training maybe ten days ago. It’s not a long one but he’s not available yet.”
Wilshere added that a few players will need checking after a heavy schedule that included extra time at Fleetwood in the FA Cup last weekend, although no new definite injuries were reported.
The game will also come too soon for Nahki Wells and Isaiah Jones, with Wilshere saying that neither is likely to feature this weekend.
“I think he’ll be a little bit too soon especially for Izzy,” he said. “Nahki’s been in and around the team and training but Izzy not yet.”
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