Luton Town Jack Wilshere has made his first transfer swoop as a manager by bringing in Manchester City winger Emilio Lawrence on loan until the end of the season.
The 20-year-old arrives at Kenilworth Road with a reputation forged in elite academy environments and recent experience of senior football through City’s cup campaigns.
A Scotland Under-21 international, Lawrence adds further depth and flexibility to Wilshere’s forward line ahead of the second half of the League One campaign. The Hatters boss believes the winger’s grounding at Everton and Manchester City has prepared him well for the demands of first-team football.
Wilshere told LTFC+: “I’ve known of Emilio through the years in my time in academy football. He was at Everton and then City signed him, as they recognised him as one of the best players in the country at that age.
“Coming through the City system he has an understanding of what is required from a winger at the top level, and a lot of quality. He can play through the middle, or off either side, but he’s more comfortable off the left coming in on his right foot.
“Of course, he still has to develop and that is part of the reason why we brought him here, to help him with that. But he has also come to help us win some games.
“I speak all the time about having variation in attack and we have had a lot of success down our left side this year, but Emilio is someone who can give us something a bit different.”
Lawrence, who has featured for City in the Vertu Trophy over the past three seasons, says that exposure to senior opposition has accelerated his development.
“Playing in the Trophy has really helped,” said the Manchester-born attacker. “You really do learn a lot with how much faster and how physical the game is compared to youth football. It makes me more excited to be here and get used to that sort of football.
“Jack was very straightforward with me and said, ‘I just want you to come here, be yourself, express yourself on the pitch, take people on and be confident’. It gives me a push to know that backing is there from the manager.”
The new number 32 could make his Luton debut in tomorrow’s League One clash with Stevenage and is relishing the prospect of a packed Kenilworth Road.
“The most we get is a few hundred in 21s football, so I’m excited to get out there in front of a crowd, especially the Luton fans,” he added. “I can’t wait.”
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