Hatters chief ready for a Carabao Cup run despite 'hindrance' of early rounds

Luton chief Nathan Jones would love a run in the Carabao Cup this season, despite knowing that if they do so, the competition will become something of a ‘hindrance’ to them.

With the campaign starting so late due to the coronavirus pandemic, and having to finish in early May as usual, then the first four rounds of the competition are to be completed before October.

If Town, who host Norwich City in the first round this afternoon, were to progress that far they could face seven matches in the space of just 26 days, before the following month which sees six Championship fixtures scheduled.

Although knowing it would be a tough ask on the players, Jones said: “In all realism, it is a hindrance because it’s a lot of games, but we have just come out of a really hectic period and handled it very well.

“We understand the predicament to getting football started on a real truncated basis is very difficult, we understand the problems we have so we have to deal with that.

“It becomes a habit because you want to win the games but the more games you play, especially with there being no fans at the minute, it is not like we can draw Manchester United in front of 75,000, it’s not like that.

“We could draw Man United but it might be in front of 300 people and none of those are paying so it is not like there is a financial basis for it.

“It’s a difficult one but we are going to try and win the game regardless of whether it means we have to play three, four or five games midweeks in a row.

"That is what we have a squad for and we believe we have a squad that can handle the trials and tribulations of a long season because that’s the work we do.

“We would love a cup run, we would love to do really well in the league.

"The league is the priority but I promise everyone we are going into the game with our best side and wanting to win the game.”