Hatters Academy chief wants to discover the next James Justin for Luton

Luton Academy & Development manager Andy Awford is looking to produce the next ‘shining light’ of the club's academy to hopefully follow in the footsteps of defender James Justin.

The 22-year-old joined Town as an eight-year-old, going on to play 114 times for the first team before earning his move to Premier League side Leicester City in June 2019.

This term, he has started every top flight game for the table-topping Foxes, also becoming a regular member of the England U21s side who have qualified for the European U21s Championships Finals, with Justin scoring his maiden goal during Tuesday night's 5-0 win over Albania U21s.

Awford is thrilled to see the ex-Hatter go on to enjoy such success and hopes he won’t be the last from the academy to do so.

He said: “The year I joined I think James was a second year apprentice, him and Frankie Musonda were the first two under my academy management that we pro’d if you like, gave professional contracts to, so really proud of him.

“He’s everything we wanted him to be, both on and off the pitch, so it’s an absolute credit to himself and his family and the club that he’s managed to get to where he is.

“Obviously Leicester have played their part in that as well, they’ve taken him on the last couple of years and pushed him on to where he is now.

“He’s a regular Premier League player, knocking on the door, playing for England U21s, probably going to be knocking on the door of the first team in the next two or three years.

“It’s great when you see that and our job as the academy is can you find the next one?

“He’s the shining light isn’t he.

"He’s the one you can hold up and say ‘he’s gone right the way through the system,’ as he was eight years old when he joined us.

“Everybody who played their part along the way, massive credit to them as it’s the whole club, so fantastic for everybody.”

Musonda, who signed his first pro deal along with Justin, was released in the summer, but has found a new home north of the border with Scottish Championship side Raith Rovers, where he has scored twice in his six appearances so far.

Awford added: "Frankie's up in Raith, there's a couple we've had dotted around and have gone on for which is good to see.

"Whether you played a small part in having a boy for one or two years, to whether you play a big part like James in having him for 10, 12 years, whatever part you play, the credit is due to the football club and the people that work with that individual over those years."