Cook had wanted to play on before being stretchered off

Hatters midfielder Jordan Cook admitted he had been desperate to play on despite being stretchered from the field in a neck brace against Crawley Town recently.
Jordan Cook is congratulated after scoring on SaturdayJordan Cook is congratulated after scoring on Saturday
Jordan Cook is congratulated after scoring on Saturday

The 26-year-old had been hurt in an aerial collision with Conor Newton during the match that Luton went on to win 2-1.

Although the injury looked a serious one, Cook, who missed last Tuesday night’s midweek victory over Hartlepool, was back in the starting line-up to face Doncaster Rovers at the weekend, scoring his fourth goal of the season too.

Speaking afterwards, Cook confirmed he was reluctant to be taken off, as he said: “I was saying I was all right, I wanted to play on. I didn’t want to get taken off as I thought I was getting in the game, playing well again and I just want to keep on scoring goals,

“I trained on Wednesday, came back in on Monday and had a light session, as it was just had a stiff neck and a headache, that’s about it.

“I had a couple of paracetamol and a massage and that did the trick, so I was fine.”

Cook barely moved while being attended to by the medical staff, but admitted that was purely down to instructions he was receiving on the field.

He added: “When someone’s telling you not to move because it’s your neck you’ve got to listen to the docs and whatever they say.

“I wanted to clap the fans but my arms were strapped down so I couldn’t do that.

“It’s just one of those things, when it’s neck and head they have to take you off as it’s precautionary.

“It was kind of scary as you’re getting put in a stretcher but because it was a neck injury, the doctor was saying he just couldn’t take any risks.

“Even though I was mad at getting taken off, put in a stretcher, thinking it was unnecessary, it’s the protocol now.

“Anything for head and neck they have to take you off and get scans to make sure everything’s all right.

“I’m just glad the lads won. I was checking the score in hospital, so I was in hospital celebrating when we won, so it was all right.”