Duo are well aware Town's kids present genuine competition

Town skipper Scott Cuthbert insists that the first team squad would be '˜stupid' not to consider the crop of youngsters coming through at Kenilworth Road as genuine competition for their positions this season.
Frankie Musonda clears for LutonFrankie Musonda clears for Luton
Frankie Musonda clears for Luton

The likes of Frankie Musonda, James Justin, Tyreeq Bakinson and Akin Famewo have all impressed greatly during pre-season so far, with the first three all given first team debuts by boss Nathan Jones last term.

Cuthbert has also been mightily impressed with what he has seen from the teenagers as whether he felt they could take the places of the more experienced members of the squad, said: “You’ve got to (believe that), as they’re training with us every day so there’s no reason why they’re not competition.

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“They come in every day and work as hard as us and put as much effort in as us and you can see their quality when they’re out there playing and you’d be stupid not to count them as competition that’s for sure.

Akin Famewo goes for a headerAkin Famewo goes for a header
Akin Famewo goes for a header

“We saw from last year the youth team going on a fantastic FA Youth Cup run and had a lot of people talking about our young players and that’s brilliant.

“You want to see the young boys coming through and pushing the older ones, they certainly make you feel old when they’re 17/18 coming through and fit as anything.

“Frankie’s a centre back but he can run all day and it’s great to see them giving they’re opportunity and I think the manager said last week they fully deserve it.

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“They’re not here for a jolly up, they’re here to compete and they’re certainly doing that as they’re very good players.”

Akin Famewo goes for a headerAkin Famewo goes for a header
Akin Famewo goes for a header

Full back Stephen O’Donnell, who could come under pressure from Justin for the right back berth this term, agreed with his captain’s comments.

He said: “I think you’d be naive not to, some of the performances you’ve seen in pre-season and even in training, you’ve seen them do things that it would be arrogant to say they weren’t competition.

“They’re doing well, settling in well and hopefully for them all they’ll get a chance at some point and then it’s up to them if they take it.

“If they take it then good on them, because there’ll be suspensions, be injuries, be different reasons.

“Everyone needs to start somewhere and hopefully they can get a chance and take it and kick on.”

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