Ex-Hatter David Oldfield believes Luton need to be 'looking up' this season

David Oldfield celebrates scoring a goal for Luton during his playing days at Kenilworth Road

Ex-Town attacker David Oldfield believes both of his former clubs, Luton and Stoke City, definitely have the potential to enjoy far better seasons this term.

Last year, the Hatters found themselves struggling against relegation from almost the word go, eventually escaping the drop with a final day victory over Blackburn Rovers.

Stoke didn’t fare too much better either, as they were down near the bottom three for long periods, only achieving safety with one game to go.

Both sides did so with new managers, Nathan Jones working miracles after taking over at Luton following his departure from Stoke earlier in the campaign, with ex-Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neill taking the reins for the Potters in November, picking up 45 points from his 30 games.

On the contest, Oldfield, who played 178 times for Town over two spells, scoring 32 goals, plus making more than 50 appearances for City, told the Luton News: “Luton are doing really well, they’ve got some good players there and it was a momentous effort to stay up at the end of last season and then to hit the ground running this season is very impressive, so they’ve done really well.

“I like Luton’s togetherness, I like the fact that they’ve been really strong, it’s a strong collective group, but they work hard for themselves.

“They’ve got some really good players, (James) Collins has done well for them, I’ve always been an (Pelly-Ruddock) Mpanzu fan, we used to play against him when he was at West Ham and I was at West Brom (head of academy coaching), they’ve got decent energy.

“(Kazenga) LuaLua is a handful, so I’m just really pleased they’re doing well, it’s going to be a very interesting game as Stoke have started well.

“I think both managers have done really well and Michael’s certainly starting to get the Stoke juggernaut going forwards again.

“It takes a little bit of time and I’m sure it’s going to be a very competitive game.

“I’m sure the players will enjoy playing in it because it’s a proper match, it’s just such a shame there’s no fans allowed in.

“I know every football club is missing its supporters, I know Luton and Stoke fans, I know the passion within both sets of supporters and I know both clubs will be desperately missing their fans.”

Since Jones has come back to Kenilworth Road, the Hatters have been in excellent form, winning eight out of their 15 matches in all competitions, drawing four and losing just three.

The Town boss doesn’t want to be putting his nerves through the wringer again this term with a relegation battle, and Oldfield believes he can achieve that aim.

He continued: “I know that it’s a really exciting time for Luton.

"Nathan has done fabulously well, the players are working their socks off, the excitement of the stadium will build and Luton definitely need to be looking up.

"Progression from last year will be a really good season and anything higher or more positive than that will even add to the excitement.

“I know that Luton need to really cement their place at that level and look to kick on from there.”

In the dug-out with Jones is former Luton player, director of football, coach and now assistant Mick Harford, who was in the same side as Oldfield when he made his league debut for the Hatters as a substitute during a 4-0 Division One defeat at Newcastle United back on April 2, 1988.

The 52-year-old, who is now a manager himself with National League South side Oxford City, added: “I’ve known Mick for a long time and he kind of encapsulates the whole of that old Luton Town.

"Everybody loves Mick and there are some players of that ilk we don’t hear so much about the Mal’s (Donaghy), but Mick represents that time brilliantly.

“He is an absolute fabulous person and doing a brilliant job at a brilliant football club.”