Hatters duo tipped to miss Tykes clash as Wilshere will keep an eye on play-off rivals

Hatters boss Jack Wilshere expects to be without duo Jordan Clark and Izzy Jones for tomorrow’s must-win clash at home to Barnsley.

Top scorer Clark missed the last two games against Mansfield Town and Rotherham United after he went off in the closing stages of the 2-1 victory over Northampton Town, as it was revealed afterwards that he has suffered a calf problem. Meanwhile, Jones has been sidelined since the Vertu Trophy final win over Stockport County at Wembley, hobbling off at the home of English football with a hamstring issue.

Asked about either being available on Saturday, Wilshere said: “Clark trained today, Izzy has done a bit of training, but probably it will be too soon for both of them. It’s always weighing up that risk of we know that we’ve got two official games left, we want it to be longer, but in order to make it longer we have to win these next two. We have to weigh up whether we involve them or we don’t, but we’ll make that decision later.”

With two matches to go, the Hatters, who travel to Bolton Wanderers next weekend, realistically need to win both matches to finish above the dotted line and extend their season into the latter stages of May. Asked if he thinks taking six points from six will be enough, Wilshere continued: “We’ll give ourselves the best chance if we do that, and that’s the aim, that’s the focus. First of all it’s Barnsley and like we’ve always said this season, one game at a time. The next challenge is that and we’re ready for that.

"We know the situation and what that creates at this stage of the season, the players’ job is to focus on trying to get maximum points on Saturday. What I’ve learned about this league, about the group of players I’ve got is that it’s just next game, that’s the mentality. We’ve always done that this season, it took some time to find our rhythm and be consistent with everything we talk about, but we seem to have found a little bit of that. We’re not where we want to be, of course we’re not, but we’re giving ourselves the best opportunity to reach our ambition this season.”

Although Luton can still in theory catch all four teams in the play-offs, hauling in Stockport County looks unlikely, as the fifth-placed Hatters are three points clear and at home to Peterborough United tomorrow, the Posh still in with a chance of being relegated, but still have a game in hand at home to relegated Port Vale on Tuesday evening. That means it’s most likely Boro to be the ones within range, the Hertfordshire outfit also three points in front of Town, travelling to Doncaster Rovers on Saturday, who have won five from nine to secure their safety in the division.

Both teams’ matches kick off at 12.30pm, meaning Luton will take the field knowing whether they can jump into the top six themselves, or require a triumph to give themselves any chance of taking it to the last day. On whether he will be watching, plus the hopes that Doncaster, who Town drew 1-1 with last month, can do them a favour, Wilshere said: “Of course, I’ll be trying to make the players focus on our game, but as coaches we’ll keep our eye on it and see what we need to do. I think that’s important as it might change the context of the game potentially.

"The players have to do all they can to focus on Barnsley and do all they can to, to give ourselves the best opportunity no matter what happens in those two early games, but I’ll be keeping my eye on it. My job is to make sure our players are focused on us, but my job is also to be aware of what’s happening around the league, especially at this time of the season. We went to Doncaster, it was a tough place for us and we felt like we got a good point there rather than dropping two points, so hopefully they can make it difficult for them and take something from the game.”

One positive for the Hatters is that they have been must-win territory for quite a while now, rising impressively to that challenge by winning five from their last seven league matches just when it was most needed. Asked how much he can take from his players being able to perform when the pressure has been ramped up, Wilshere added: “I said that to the players, I said that everyone at the minute is talking about our confidence and belief and the one thing that you can’t do as a player is just build a career on confidence, because it’s something that can be affected.

"What should give the players confidence is the way they commit themselves to every single day and they have done, from the time that I’ve been here. That’s why I’ve always tried to be positive and understanding that 100 percent there’s been goals we’ve given away that have been unacceptable. We have to get better at that, but in terms of commitment and in terms of being all in, the players have done.

"That’s not just something you can build overnight, they have to go through tough times, they have to be criticised to come out the other side and perform under pressure and they have certainly done that. I’ve said many times, we’re not where we want to be as if we were, we wouldn’t be in a position where we’ve got two games to get to our ambition, we’d be in the play-offs by now. We have to understand that and the only way we can keep improving is by working the same way.”