Adebayo back in full training but Luton boss won't put a date on his return
Striker has been out since April with a knee injury
Luton boss Jack Wilshere has confirmed that forward Elijah Adebayo is now back in full training once more following a serious knee injury, although was reluctant to put a date on just when he expects the striker to be available for selection.
The 28-year-old has been sidelined since last April when he suffered the issue in the second half of a 1-1 Championship draw against Leeds United. Hopes were raised among fans that Adebayo, who has scored 47 goals in 182 appearances for Luton, might be on the comeback trail around the Christmas and new year period, after he gave an interview to the club website in late November where he stated his return might not be 'as long as you'd think.’
Over two months on though and it hasn’t materialised, but there was some further good news this week as Wilshere confirmed he was now back with his team-mates at the Brache once more. Although the Town manager would love to name him in the squad to face Blackpool this afternoon, and bolster a misfiring forward line which has only scored three goals from open play this term, he knows he needs to take his time to make sure the ex-Walsall striker is in the right condition to do so.
Speaking yesterday, he said: “He’s doing well Eli and again a leader, a big influence on the group. Ever since I’ve been here, me and Eli have had a weekly catch-up and I’ve really enjoyed it, getting to know him, getting to know the club as he has been here for years, telling me what he sees and he thinks. He’s big for everything and again someone we have to be patient with.
"I’d love nothing more than to chuck him on for 10 minutes at the end of the game tomorrow and get balls in the box for him to go and attack, but he’s not there yet. We’re working with him slowly and let’s see. You need to be careful with that one as well to say right, it’s going to be this game, as we need to go day by day, week by week, but he’s training, he’s in full training and hopefully he won’t be too long.
“That is so positive for him, of course when I say full training, he’s training Monday, he might miss a bit of Tuesday and then he’s back in with us, but it’s been good to have him back. He needs to find his rhythm as well. I had that experience of being out for 12 months and I’ve been having conversations with him, and it literally is day by day you feel fitter, you feel like your touch is getting there, you feel more in sync with everyone. We need to take our time with him but also I’m excited about him coming back.”