Hatters chief overjoyed Wells is finally netting the goals he has been craving
Forward is up to five for the campaign already
Luton boss Jack Wilshere was ecstatic that striker Nahki Wells is finally netting the goals he has been craving for the Hatters when continuing his prolific start to the campaign by finding the net against Stockport County on Wednesday night.
The 36-year-old was recalled to the starting line-up having been on the bench against both Chelsea in the Carabao Cup and then Mansfield on Sunday afternoon, as he entered the fray in the second period at the weekend with the visitors trailing 5-0 following an atrocious defensive display, adding some late respectability to proceedings by winning and converting a penalty, also hammering another attempt home to make the final score 5-2.
That saw him named in the starting XI that faced the league’s other Hatters, summer signing Callum Marshall, who had taken his place, among the substitutes on this occasion, as with Luton for an immediate response their trashing, Wells went closer than most in an nondescript first half, seeing a close range strike from Liam Walsh’s free kick that dropped invitingly for him, somehow turned over the bar by the outstretched leg of visiting keeper Oliver Whatmuff, on loan from Premier League side Manchester City.
With Town swapping ends 0-0, something they would have dreamed of at Mansfield a few days earlier, the Hatters went on to make a far more positive start to the second period, Wells breaking the deadlock just five minutes in, as he kept pace with Harrison Ashby, and when the wingback’s cross shot was parried out by Whatmuff, was able to adjust his feet and tuck home the rebound.
Last term, it could have well gone wide of the target, but for a confident and in-form Wells, it flew into the net, for what was a fifth goal of the campaign already. Having taken just six matches to get there, it’s the second quickest time during his lengthy career that has reached that landmark, doing it in just five games in the third tier for Bradford City during the 2013-14 season, going on to find the net 22 times that term, which included a move to then Championship outfit Huddersfield Town in the January window.
Wells’ form is a world away from his struggles last year, as it took him until February to chalk up five strikes, that happening on his 29th outing, as although he went on to reach double figures, spoke publicly about how disappointed he had been with his final tally. After getting off the mark straight away against Gillingham, the Bermuda international spoke about how he feels he has improved since working with Wilshere, then asked about his goal and improved output so far, the Luton chief said: “He’s 36-years-old and he’s still working on his finishing, he’s still trying to improve.
"He’s added as well, he’s helping the other strikers. He’s helping Callum Marshall, so Nahki’s really, really important to us. We’ve got two different strikers, I’m really happy with how that’s gone in the window and different games will require different things. I know Callum was disappointed and frustrated yesterday, but that’s the perfect way to respond.
"I’m happy for Nahki as last year he gave so much to the team, but not necessarily with goals and my message to him all the time is you bring so much more to the team, you help the team get up the pitch. He agreed, but I know deep down as a number nine you want goals and he needs to continue that.
"He shows his love for the game as I always say that to the older players. I’m 34, and the way they look after themselves and their body, they’re able to train with intensity and execute the game that we talk about all the time. That requires physicality, it requires being fit, so I’m really happy with Nahki. Nahki knows what I think about him. He was captain tonight, that’s for a reason, he’s a leader and he needs to keep going with it.”