Debutant Luker's hamstring injury is a 'worry' for Hatters boss

The severity of Luton midfielder Jayden Luker’s hamstring injury during their 3-0 victory against Gillingham in the Carabao Cup first round on Saturday was described as a ‘worry’ for Hatters boss Jack Wilshere.

Having impressed while out on loan with Notts County last term, playing at Wembley as the Magpies won the League Two play-off final by beating Salford City, and then catching the eye of Town’s coaching staff during the club’s pre-season campaign, the 21-year-old was handed his first start for the club at the Priestfield Stadium, beginning in a visiting XI that also contained fellow academy graduate Benny Benagr.

Luker, who has also had spells at Woking and Grimsby Town since moving to Kenilworth Road back in 2022, grew into the contest and with the dominant Hatters struggling to make a breakthrough, demonstrated a huge flash of his talent and just why he is so highly rated, finding space outside the box to slide a perfect through ball to team-mate Nahki Wells who was able to open the scoring in the latter stages of the first half.

He then came out after the break, but inside 60 seconds, when chasing a ball played down the right that looked to have put him through on goal himself, Luker immediately pulled up and fell to the turf holding his hamstring. It was clear the midfielder couldn’t continue, as he had to hobble off with the club’s medical team, replaced by summer signing Kasey Palmer.

Discussing the injury afterwards, Wilshere said: “It’s probably the only disappointing thing because again he’s someone, his journey is a little bit different to Benny’s, but someone I was aware of last season. He’s got so many attributes I like in a midfielder and he keeps getting better and better. Again, someone who’s taken every opportunity, as I thought he was good today. He really understands how we want to play and how we can be successful within that, and he has quality.

"You saw the pass through to Nahki for Nahki just to hit first time and that’s not an easy thing to do when you give that much care on the pass. So he’s going to get all the love and all the support from us. When someone pulls up like that you always worry a little bit, however I made it clear to him and everyone that he is part of us. We want to keep him here, he is part of the future and we have to treat him like that, he’s going to get love and care from us.”

Speaking about his team-mate, Wells, who was the beneficiary of Luker’s vision and weight of pass to open his account for the campaign, was keeping his fingers crossed too, adding: “Jayden’s an excellent talent, somebody that can score goals, create goals, we’re building a good relationship. It’s a shame to come off, hopefully that isn’t a bad one, but he has that quality and for me it’s about timing my run, trying to get in those positions.”