Howells in limbo over his Hatters future

The 24-year-old is out of contract at the end of the campaign and faces a nervous wait to see if he will be offered a new deal at the club.

Howells, who has made 325 appearances for Town, starting all four games of Nathan Jones’ reign to date, is now in the unusual position of seeing whether he will be kept on.

He said: “I’m up at the end of the season, I’m fighting for my job.

“I’ve got a little boy and got friends and family and I’ve got to provide for stuff, that’s what it comes down to.

“So I’ve got to get a job, whether it’s at Luton if they want me still or somewhere else, I’ve got to keep providing.

“I’ve never been in the situation where I don’t know what could happen at the end of the year, so it’s one of those things.

“I’ve always knuckled down, always worked hard and will carry on doing that.

“I love playing football, love playing for Luton Town, always have and always will.”

Howells, who had been on the transfer list and in the wilderness under previous boss John Still, believes the new regime at the club has now got him in the prime shape of his career.

He continued: “I’ve got a new lease of life, got myself as fit as I can, got myself in shape and worked hard at it.

“I’m in a good place with my football at the moment on and off the pitch.

“I think I’m in the best shape I’ve been for a good amount of years, I’m just going to keep working hard on the pitch and trying to get the results and help the boys as much as I can.”

Howells is now playing under his seventh manager since coming through the ranks at Kenilworth Road and he’s relishing working with the recently installed Jones.

He added: “I’ve never had a young manager since I’ve been here, not in a critical way of the managers who’ve been here, I’ve just never had a manager who wants to play this style of football and is enthusiastic about it as much as the gaffer is.

“I’m enjoying it very much and to have the run of games I’ve had, I feel like I’m improving each game, getting a bit of form and feeling quite comfortable.

“I’m enjoying the way the gaffer likes playing and enjoying every minute I get.”