Hatters manager Jack Wilshere says striker Elijah Adebayo’s commitment to his rehabilitation has been “unbelievable” as the Luton forward continues his recovery from a long-term injury.
The 27-year-old striker remains some way from returning to action after undergoing knee surgery in April, but he posted photos on his instagram page yesterday of him back out on the grass at the club’s training ground, The Brache, where his presence alone has helped lifted the mood.
“I think we have to be careful with Eli,” said Wilshere. “Of course, when everyone’s outside [on the training pitch] and me included, we’re buzzing and we’re excited. We’re asking the same questions that you’re [media] asking.
“But I just think as well, for Eli to have his presence, he was outside today. He wasn’t involved in training, but he was out there for the warm-up. He was sat on the music box playing the music, people in tune. So he’s someone who’s very important and to see him outside gives everyone a lift, but we need to be calm with him.
“That injury is one where you do come back quite quick to the grass, you start running and yeah, he needs to manage that as well, because he doesn’t want to be getting to a place where he’s frustrated. We’ll help him with that, but we are excited to see him on the grass and we look forward to having him back.”
Adebayo, who has become a key figure for Luton since joining from Walsall in 2021, was been heavily involved in the club’s rise from the Championship to the Premier League, though he struggled for goals last term back in the Championship. Wilshere revealed he has invited the striker to use his experience to help the squad during his recovery.
“I said to Eli, ‘come to my office once a week to help me’, because he knows so much about the club, about the players,” said Wilshere. “He’s got a special bond with this place. He’s been on that journey to the Premier League and back.
“The work the coaches at the time and the club put into him to get him to where he was, he really sees the benefit in the things that I’m trying to say to the players, how we work and how we have to get better. So yeah, he’s important.”
When the striker suffered his knee injury, the early prognosis was that he would miss most of this season. The Luton boss admitted there is still some way to go before a return date can be pencilled in, but praised Adebayo’s attitude behind the scenes.
“With an injury like this, you have to be careful because there’s always sort of little milestones that you have to meet before you can go to the next one,” Wilshere added. “One thing I will say about Eli, and probably everyone would echo the same thing, is his attitude and his commitment to rehab and making sure that he comes back quicker than that time frame.
“In fact, I don’t think I’ve seen many players with that appetite and that hunger. I know he’s had that since he’s been here. I think we have to be careful and of course, we want to see him this season and I’m sure if you ask him, he’ll have that target in his head, but there’s a few things that he has to do before that.”
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