Brown handed first start since March as Luton are forced into one change against Bolton

Town attacker Jacob Brown has been handed his first start since March 1 as Luton have been forced into one change for their League One home clash against Bolton Wanderers this afternoon.

The 27-year-old has only recently returned to the squad after suffering a serious knee injury last term, but with Jake Richards failing a late fitness test, the forward is the one alteration to the side that beat Huddersfield Town 2-1 on Tuesday night, in for his first start since the 1-0 success over Portsmouth when Luton were still a Championship outfit.

Milli Alli has also returned to the bench, as on Brown, who has been upping his minutes recently, getting another 35 during the midweek victory, Hatters boss Jack Wilshere, who believes his side will have their belief boosted by the midweek triumph, said: “We’re going into another tough game but we’ve got a little bit more confidence behind us.

“Browny’s looking sharper, not just every game, but every day, and I remember about that injury, how that is. He’s someone who we have to be patient with as he’s also one that excites us and we know his qualities. We want him to find his best form quickly, but we also know we have to respect the time he needs to get there.”

Hatters: Josh Keeley, Hakeem Odoffin, Nigel Lonwijk, Teden Mengi, Kal Naismith (C), George Saville, Liam Walsh, Lamine Fanne, Jacob Brown, Cohen Bramall, Jerry Yates. Subs: James Shea, Zack Nelson, Gideon Kodua, Christ Makosso, Shayden Morris, Milli Alli, Mads Andersen.

Trotters: Teddy Sharman-Lowe, Josh Dacres-Cogley, Xavier Simons, George Johnstone, Jordi Osei-Tutu, Aaron Morley, Eoin Toal ©, Amario Cozier-Duberry, Kyle Dempsey, Max Conway, Mason Burstow. Sub: Tyler Miller, Richard Taylor, Sam Dalby, Ibrahim Cissoko, Ethan Erhahon, Marcus Forss, John McAtee. Referee: Ruebyn Ricardo.