Cuthbert insists his best is yet to come

Cuthbert, who moved to Kenilworth Road from Leyton Orient in the summer, has been one of Luton’s stand out players so far this season, with a magnificent performance against Premier League Stoke City on Tuesday night.

When asked about his form since becoming a Hatter, he said: “It takes a little bit of time to settle in, a new set of boys, new changing room, a whole different atmosphere, but I feel like I’m settling in slowly but surely.

“I still think my performances can get better and will get better as the season get on if I’m playing.

“I’m looking forward to Saturday now to try and go one step better and put in a good performance to get three points in the league.”

The 28-year-old has been utilised as both a right back and centre half this season, and it was in the heart of defence that he excellent in midweek, along with Luke Wilkinson, keeping the likes of Peter Crouch and Jonathan Walters quiet for long periods.

When asked which position he prefers, Cuthbert continued: “I don’t mind. I’m a centre back, I’ve played centre back my whole career, I can play right back as well.

“I played right back for a full season in Leyton Orient’s play-off year so I can play right back and if I’m in the team and playing I’m happy and not one to complain.

So far this campaign, Luton boss John Still has gone with systems that incorporate either three centre halves, or a more standard flat back four, with Cuthbert not minding which formation was selected.

He said: “When we’ve played in the three, we’ve looked fairly solid, we’ve played the four and looked fairly solid as well, in spells.

“We’ve obviously conceded goals, and it’s the manager’s decision, us players we can’t affect that. All we’ve got to do is do our jobs, manager’s got to pick the tactics, pick the formation and it’s our jobs to go out there and do them.”

One thing Still made a point of doing in the summer was to greatly increase the competition for the defensive places. With captain Steve McNulty on the bench against Stoke, Mark O’Brien playing in central midfield and Magnus Okuonghae continuing to regain full fitness too, Town’s back-line more than held their own when up against Mark Hughes’ side on Tuesday night.

Cuthbert knows displays like they produced in the Capital One Cup, shows whoever is selected must maintain those high standards to stay in the side, adding: “We made changes for the Bristol City and made changes for the Stoke game, it’s just the way it is.

“With competition all over the pitch and players who can come in and fill in, it’s important you take players out, give them a rest, that’s just part and parcel of having quite a big squad and a competitive squad.

“Competition is good, it brings the best out of people. As long as there are people there ready to take your place if you slip up, it keeps you on your toes and whoever’s got the shirt has got to carry on working hard, keep putting performances in.

“It’s not just about Saturday, it’s about every day in training as well. Having that real work ethic, which we do have as well, and if you’ve got the shirt, got to do whatever you can to keep it.

“It’s a good headache to have rather to have that headache than be short of players that’s for sure.”