Donley 'excited' to work with Wilshere and join ex-Spurs team-mate at Luton

New Luton signing Jamie Donley declared he was hugely ‘excited’ about not only playing for Hatters boss Jack Wilshere, but also linking up with former Spurs and Leyton Orient team-mate Josh Keeley after arriving at Kenilworth Road on a season-long loan this afternoon.

The 21-year-old had been heavily tipped to move to Bedfordshire yesterday, with the deal eventually announced by Town earlier on today, snapping up a player who was a hit during his last stint in League One, scoring eight goals and creating 10 more when on loan with Leyton Orient, as with Keeley in goal, the O’s reached the play-off final, defeated by Nathan Jones’ Charlton Athletic.

Donley, who has netted twice in eight senior caps for Northern Ireland, had spells at Stoke City and Oxford United last term, but having featured for his parent club during pre-season, was allowed to depart north London and head to the Hatters. Having sealed his deal, then speaking about working with Wilshere and joining up with a familiar face once more, Donley, who has featured three times in the Premier League, told the club’s official website: “I’m over the moon.

"It's taken a while, but I'm delighted to get it done and excited to see what I can do this season. When the manager called me, he spoke very highly of me, about what he wants to do this season and the way they play football. The way he spoke of me and how he sees me as a player really excited me. That's all you want to hear as a player, and hopefully I can take on that advice and show him that what he believes in me, I can do.

“Josh has been on to me. I played golf with him a few weeks ago, and he said about coming here. He’s not just a football mate, he’s one of my best mates away from football too. We were at Orient together, where we got to the play-off final. Hopefully we can push on this season and go one step further.”

Keeley himself was clearly eager to be in the same side as a player who scored 38 goals for Spurs when coming up through the youth ranks, as he added: “He's the type of player that's technical, intelligent, clinical, a finisher.”