Luton will have two key players back and available for the Stevenage clash, but Jack Wilshere has warned his side they must be ready for a difficult test against one of League One’s most resilient outfits.
The Hatters come into the game having lost on the road in disappointing fashion at Exeter after two home league wins without conceding, scoring seven goals.
But Stevenage – who they lost 2-0 to in October, spelling the end of Matt Bloomfield’s tenure – arrive with a reputation for being hard to break down and with strong recent away form.
Wilshere said: “The main thing for me is that we match their fight and their willingness. How difficult they are to break down, that’s clear. We’re starting to become a team that has the ball a lot, but we still have to have threat.
“Against a Stevenage team that don’t concede many chances or many opportunities, you have to make sure you are constantly keeping the pressure on them and on their back four, but also taking your moments when they come, which we’ve been good at, especially at home recently.”
Luton have won just one of their last seven Football League meetings with Stevenage, although that lone success was a memorable 7-1 victory at Kenilworth Road in October 2017.
Wilshere acknowledged the added edge around the fixture and believes recent results at home provide an opportunity to push on.
He told LTFC+: “We need more consistency, away from home and at home. We won 4-0 and then 3-0 here and were full of confidence, then we went to Exeter and lost, which knocked us a bit.
“But sometimes that makes you realise you still have to do everything, all the basics, and fight for every duel in this league. We want to build something at home. We know it’s a local derby, they beat us in the last game and we owe them one. The fans will feel that as well.”
Team news is more positive for Wilshere, with several players edging closer to availability after injury. Goalkeeper Josh Keeley is fit again after a minor knock.
Wilshere said: “Josh is fit and available. He would have been back for Doncaster but he picked up just a little knock. When you have a number two like Sheasy [James Shea] who has loads of experience of stepping in, it makes that decision a little bit easier.”
Top scorer Gideon Kodua is also expected to return after missing the Exeter defeat.
Wilshere said: “Gideon was touch and go for Exeter and we felt it wasn’t right to risk him. Given the output he’d given in the previous two games, he probably benefited from missing that one and then the Doncaster game being off. Hopefully we’ll see him fresh at the weekend.”
There is growing optimism around longer-term absentees too, with Elijah Adebayo and Ali Al-Hamadi.
Wilshere said: “They’re getting closer. Seeing them on the grass gives everyone a lift, especially someone like Elijah who has been a big part of this club’s history. That gives the fans a boost as well.
“Ali is hungry and very disappointed with how his season has gone. He feels like he’s got a point to prove and that’s a good place to be as a player. Hopefully not too long and we’ll see them both back.”
Jake Richards has also returned to training, although Saturday comes too soon, while Hakeem Odoffin is progressing steadily.
Wilshere said: “Jake trained for the first time today [Friday], which is good news. He’s not available for [for Stevenage], that’s too soon, but hopefully not too long. Hakeem is still recovering but he’s on the grass, which is good news.”
New loan signing Emilio Lawrence is available after joining the Hatters from Manchester City yesterday, while also in contention is Ethon Archer who returned from his loan spell with Cheltenham this week after being signed in the summer and sent back to the Robins.
Stevenage arrive having lost just one of their last five away league games and have kept three clean sheets in that spell, the same number they managed across their previous 19 away matches combined. Luton, meanwhile, will be chasing a third straight home league win with a clean sheet for the first time since December 2018.
Wilshere added: “We want to be full of energy. It’s an early kick-off, which I like, and the crowd will be full of energy as well. Hopefully we can give them something.”
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