Butterfield: Frustrating spell out of the Luton side was the toughest of my career

Former Luton midfielder Jacob Butterfield has revealed that his spell out of the reckoning at Kenilworth Road last term was the toughest time in his 12-year career as a professional.

The 30-year-old, had featured 17 times for Town up until January 4 when he was named in the starting line-up for the FA Cup third round clash at Bournemouth.

He played 68 minutes of the 4-0 defeat, before not selected again under previous boss Graeme Jones, at times not even making the match-day squad.

On how difficult a situation it was, Butterfield, speaking exclusively to the Luton News said: “You’ve just got to keep at it, but it was probably the most frustrating period in my career to be honest.

“That couple of months when I was out of the picture, I felt like I didn’t deserve that.

“It was frustrating, but what can you do?

“I never missed a session, I turned up every day, I was working hard, training well and that’s all you can do, because if you switch off and you don’t do the right things, then you’re just going to have no chance.

“You always need to do the right things and football can turn around quickly, so you always have to be ready for a chance if and when it comes.

“That was my mentality really, just keep training hard, keep trying to prove my point and hopefully a chance will come at some point.”

The fact that Butterfield, who had cost Derby County around £5m just five years previously, wasn’t chosen by Jones was baffling for Town fans and journalists alike.

He had been one of Luton’s better players during the early stages of the campaign, but even with the side bottom of the table and losing 12 on the trot away from home, couldn’t break back in.

The midfielder continued: “I was surprised and disappointed, frustrated, all those things.

“As a player you’re always going to be a little bit biased and think you should play all the time, you’ve got to back yourself.

“But yourself in the paper and the reporters who reported on Luton and the fans, all said the same things and had seen the same things that I had played well and then I just out of the team.

“It was frustrating for me.

“I had some conversations with the previous manager about reasons why and I’d have loved to have featured more this season, but that’s down to the manager to make these decisions.

“From my thinking, with the way the team was set up and the diamond, I just maybe didn’t totally fit into that with the way that he played and that’s ultimately why I didn’t play.

“That was the questions that I had, that I couldn’t make sense of it, so it was a strange one, only the previous manager would fully know the reasons why.

“I can only contribute when I was called upon.

“I didn’t let anyone down when I did play for the club, it’s just a shame that it couldn’t be a bigger part for me to play, but that’s just the way it goes.”

Butterfield did seek out Jones for a number of discussions about his lack of first team opportunities though during his lengthy spell in the wilderness.

On how they went, he said: “I’ve got no problem approaching the manager and asking the questions, especially when I feel like it’s justified, when I’ve played well and I’m training hard and I’m knocking on the door.

“I did that quite regularly with the old manager.

"He said at one point ‘I’ve spoken you more than I’ve spoken to anyone else,’ as I kept going in and asking the questions.

“For me, I could have helped the team, certainly at times when we went through bad form.

“I was chomping at the bit to get in the team, I felt like I could have improved the team and given us something different and I didn’t get the opportunity to do that.

“I just think the team started off playing quite a lot out from the back and a lot more possession football.

"Then as the season developed, whether the previous manager lost a bit of confidence or felt it was better to be set up as hard to beat and be a bit of a counter attacking team with the likes of Harry Cornick and his pace, which we utilised well during the season.

"So to be less of a progressive team in terms of having the ball and dominating the play to being hard to beat and hit teams on the counter attack.

"I think he just felt like other players were suited to do that in the diamond shape, that’s all I can say.

"Both managers said to me, they think I’m a fantastic player and my career speaks for itself, I'm absolutely good enough to play in this team, it was just the way they went."

Despite his lack of game-time, for reasons he couldn't comprehend, Butterfield used his experience to try and help the players during their ultimately successful relegation battle.

That coupled with his performances and desire in training, meant he could leave with a clear conscience, adding: "They've got good players at Luton, the squad’s had a good three seasons, they’ve got a great understanding of how they all play, they all go out and give 100 per cent.

"There’s some good players and you can’t begrudge anybody getting the nod, they’re good lads.

"I tried to support them as best I could when I wasn’t in the team.

"It was frustrating, I would have loved to play more and certainly at times I felt I should have definitely played, when we’d not played so well or had a couple of bad defeats, but it just didn’t come, so I’ll take it on the chin and move on.

"I contributed a part this season, I would have loved to have played a bigger part in keeping the team up, but I feel like when I did play, I certainly didn’t let anybody down.

"I put in some good performances, I can walk away with my head held high about what I did and on top of that, I didn’t miss a training session all season.

"I went in, worked hard, put myself up for selection each week and tried to show a good attitude, so I can certainly walk away with my head held high, saying I did everything I could to give myself the best chance.

"Ultimately it was all about Luton staying up, which we did, which is great and I did contribute to that, so I’m proud of that.

"I’m pleased with my contribution, but I would have loved it to be two or three times as much, but that’s not to be."