Bree is happy to be winning Town's fans back onside after a tough start at Luton

Town full back James Bree was thrilled to learn that he was finally starting to win the Luton fans after a tough start to life at Kenilworth Road.

The 22-year-old didn't have it easy during the early stages of his loan move from Aston Villa last season, struggling to ever fully justify why the Villains paid a 'significant fee' to Barnsley for his services back in January 2017.

There were mitigating circumstances though, Luton's defence as a whole conceding far too many goals, while Bree was often asked to play left back by previous manager Graeme Jones, in the absence of Dan Potts.

It led to some supporters turning on the loanee during home games in particular, but that was all soon to change after lockdown.

With his confidence clearly boosted by returning boss Nathan Jones, Bree looked a completely different player, putting in some stellar display when selected in his natural right back berth, becoming one of the stars of Luton's Great Escape.

It promoted the Wakefield-born defender to the top of not just Jones’ wanted list for right backs when the window opened, but Town's supporters as well, who were quick to praise the addition on social media when it was confirmed.

A poll of almost 1,000 supporters on the Luton News website saw an overwhelming 93 per cent vote in favour of Bree returning and the reaction wasn't lost on the player himself.

He said: “I think that’s something that made me quite happy, seeing the stuff on Twitter.

“It was a tough start, the fans were getting on me a little bit at the start of the season and rightly so with some of my performances.

"But I think since I came back after lockdown, it’s been annoying that the fans haven’t been in, because I feel like if I was playing how I’ve been playing they’d be loving me, but hopefully they're all watching and seeing how I’ve played.”

When his loan was up after helping Town secure their Championship status with a 3-2 win over Blackburn Rovers, Bree returned to Villa Park, but there was only one place he really wanted to be playing his football once more, Kenilworth Road.

The move went through at the start of the month, Bree putting pen to paper on a permanent deal, as on how much he wanted to make it happen, he continued: “With how the season finished, I felt I was playing really well.

“It’s great here, the lads are unbelievable here, so it was a good decision to come back and settle in.

“I still had my apartment in Milton Keynes I was living in, so it was a really good transition.

"It was something I was looking forward to as soon as I left and heard Luton were interested, it was dead on that I wanted to come back, so I think it was good for both parties.

“Walking in, it’s always a laugh, you enjoy coming into training, it doesn’t feel like work and I think that’s the best thing about being here, it’s been class.”

Since being at Luton over his two spells, boss Jones has shown a real ability to improve players in all positions, but particularly full backs, with both James Justin and Jack Stacey earning moves to the Premier League.

It’s something that Bree has taken to mind as well, saying: “Definitely, that’s a goal and I spoke to the gaffer a few times on the phone when I left and it only took one conversation to know that I wanted to come back.

"There was a few things going on, but I think for me and everyone involved it was the right decision and I’m glad I’m here now.

"The gaffer came in and spoke to me, I really believed in what he was saying and I think I needed that.

"I needed someone to come in and just push me on, as I know I can be a really good player, I just needed someone to believe in me.

"I think the gaffer does that and hopefully I can prove that to him this season."

Meanwhile, after watching Bree produce a brilliant performance at the Madejski Stadium last night, tearing up and down the right flank to deliver a number of dangerous crosses during the Hatters' 1-0 Carabao Cup win over Reading, Jones himself added: “He’s got some wonderful technique, we’re really pleased we’ve got him.

"There’s so much more to come from him, he will get better, that’s why he’s come here.

"He needs to develop as a player here, but he’s showing some wonderful form in terms of that.

"We’ve got him back, we're easing him in as he hasn’t had a pre-season as such, he’s trained, but not trained, trained, and that’s why tonight was so vital.

"The fact that we can make nine changes and still be as competitive as we are is really good feeling as that gives me headaches as I know that at any point, I can make a change and I know they’ll be up to speed.”