Hatters boss reveals what part ex-Luton star James Justin played in Town capturing Dewsbury-Hall from Foxes

Town manager Nathan Jones revealed that former Hatters defender James Justin played his part in the loan acquisition of young Leicester City midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall last week.

Justin, who spent 14 years at Kenilworth Road, playing 114 times, became the club's most expensive player, when he moved to the King Power Stadium in the summer of 2019, making 18 top flight appearances since.

With Dewsbury-Hall a club-mate of the former Luton academy graduate, Jones admitted he had rung Justin to see if he would put in a good work, but needn't have worried, saying: “I had a word with James and James had a word with him, but James Justin needs no encouragement to speak well of Luton.

“He’s a Lutonian, he loves the place, it’s in his family, it’s in every part of him, that kid never forgets where he comes from.

“He’s what we love having here, he epitomises everything we do at Luton, so he would have been singing Luton’s praises on every single level.

“I know that and I did actually ring James to ask him but he said he’s already done it, so it didn't come from any prompting from me.

“James is one of ours even though he plays for a wonderful Premier League club and trust me, he would have had a word.”

Dewsbury-Hall was signed too late to make his debut in the 2-0 defeat against Stoke City on Saturday, but the 22-year-old will now come into contention for tomorrow night's trip to Millwall.

Jones is excited to see him in action, especially after an impressive loan spell at Blackpool last term where he netted four goals in just 10 games before the League One campaign was ended due to coronavirus.

Although he wanted to see him make a permanent switch to Luton, Jones had to make with a temporary deal, City boss Brendan Rodgers clearly a big fan too, Dewsbury-Hall penning a four year deal at Leicester.

Despite that, the Town chief was still keen to get him on deadline day, continuing: "He’s an excellent player and probably one of the first ones I identified on my return, in terms of ones we had to get.

"We tried to get him permanently but we couldn’t.

"Leicester kept him around, he played against Arsenal (in the Carabao Cup) and when they finally let him out, they were true to their word, because we registered interest before anyone really.

I watched him seven or eight times at Blackpool last year and I thought he did excellently and he’s one that will fit right into what we do here.

"He’s a great character, very good technically, he had a wonderful loan at Blackpool and Leicester City gave me permission to meet him very, very early, a few days after the season finished and I did.

"I’m glad I did because he’s chosen to come here."

When asked what kind of player the Hatters fans can expect to see from their new addition, Jones added: "He’s a centre midfield player, he can play in attacking midfield, he can play in a two, he can sit if need be, but we see him as an attacking midfield player.

"He’s got a wonderful left foot, technically very good, he’s a good athlete and scores goals if he’s in a position enough.

"So, we’ll look to harness that and get some real development in him.

"It’s a shame he’s not ours but if we have to develop him then Leicester’s a good club for us to help."