Luton Town boss Jack Wilshere believes he’s added a different dimension to Luton’s attack after completing the loan signing of winger Emilio Lawrence from Manchester City.
The 20-year-old becomes Jack Wilshere’s first January addition as the Hatters look to add more variation in the final third after failing to register a shot on target in the 1-0 defeat at Exeter last week, while November 25 was the last time a Town striker scored a League One goal.
Lawrence did begin life as a striker in his youth but has operated more as a winger for City’s under-21s, though Wilshere has pointed to his versatility and academy grounding as key factors behind the move.
“A player that gives us something different in the final third. I’ve watched him for a few years and I’ve known him for a few years. Being involved in academy football you kind of know who’s doing well and he was one that I always kept my eye on,” Wilshere told LTFC+.
“He can go on the inside, can use the outside and he comes from a club that, in my opinion, develop players in the right way. You can see that throughout the leagues.”
Lawrence is available for tomorrow’s visit of near neighbours Stevenage, though he is expected to need time to adapt to senior football, with this his first loan away from Manchester City, but Wilshere believes the environment at Kenilworth Road is well suited to his development.
The manager added: “He’s still young and it’s his first loan, so he needs time to adapt, to get used to us and to understand the players he’s playing with. But he’s definitely an exciting one for us.”
Wilshere also revealed his long-standing awareness of Lawrence from his own time in academy football as a coach at Arsenal and said that hunger was a major factor in the decision to bring him in.
The Town boss said: “When you’re in the academy world it’s quite a small world. You hear about players and you watch a lot of games. He was definitely one that came up a few times.
“When I spoke to him straight away, and I spoke to his family, they’re hungry. They want him to get out and play and he’s hungry, which is the most important thing. Let’s try to support him in the best way and give him a little bit of time.”
Wilshere also stressed that the move reflects well on Luton’s reputation, with City trusting Town to develop one of their young talents.
He said: “That’s testament to the club and to the coaches we’ve got here. Manchester City have probably the best loan system in the country, so we should all take pride in that.”
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