Luton Town will make changes for tonight’s Vertu Trophy tie against Swindon Town as Jack Wilshere balances the chance of getting to Wembley with the need to manage injuries and workloads.
The Hatters are three wins away from the final of a competition they won in 2009. This season, the competition has played a role in player development since the arrival of manager Wilshere, offering minutes that have translated into league opportunities for the likes of left back Joe Johnson.
With another quick turnaround following Saturday’s 2-1 League One win over Stevenage, rotation is expected again, and the manager has confirmed several players remain unavailable, while one or two could return to contention.
“I think it’d probably be too soon for Jake [Richards],” Wilshere said. “Jake’s probably the closest. I’ll see how Teds [Teden Mengi] is. Teds had a backspasm, let’s see how he responds, but probably, from my experience, I’ve had that before, [it will] probably be a bit too soon for him as well.
“Too soon for Izzy [Isaiah Jones]. I need to check on Ethon [Archer]. Ethon had a tight calf earlier in this week, so he missed a few days, but yeah, maybe Ethon will be back, but that should be it.”
Wilshere has also previously spoken about Milli Alli’s future, who has not been selected in the last five match-day squads, with a loan move away from Kenilworth Road a possibility this month. As for whether he could feature against Swindon the manager said: “Maybe. We have to look at it and make a good decision because, Cohen [Bramall] didn’t play that much [against Stevenage]. Let’s see how he responds and let’s see, tactically, what we need from the game.”
The Town boss reiterated that the Trophy has been important in giving players exposure rather than just minutes, suggesting tonight’s selection will also be shaped by development.
“When you’re still in a sort of building phase, which we are, you need to maximise every game and you need to maximise every opportunity,” Wilshere said. “There’ll be some changes because we need to look after players and it’ll give players an opportunity to show us what they can do, to help the club get to Wembley, potentially.”
Wilshere pointed to recent examples of players using Trophy games as a platform, hinting that tonight’s match could prove pivotal for those on the fringes of his league plans.
“JJ is a really good example,” he said of academy graduate Johnson, who has started and impressed in the last four league games.
“We gave him some minutes in there. He started to build and he got his opportunity because Kal [Naismith] was injured and he’s now stepped up and taken that opportunity.
“So we’ll definitely make changes again on Tuesday and they’ll see if they take the opportunity, then they’ll get the chance to go again.”
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