Hatters reveal midfielder is out for the foreseeable future with knee injury

Luton Town have announced that midfielder Sverre Sandal will be out for a lengthy period due to undergoing surgery on a knee injury.

The 23-year-old, who moved to Kenilworth Road from Norwegian Norwegian Tippeligaen club KFUM in January, played three times last term, before featuring regularly during pre-season, getting a run-out from the bench against Gillingham in the Carabao Cup last month. Expected to figure in the second round trip to Chelsea, Sandal wasn’t named in the match-day squad with boss Jack Wilshere revealing he had suffered a problem in training.

The Hatters have now revealed the extent of his injury, as a statement on the club’s official website said: “Ahead of tonight’s game against Stockport County at Kenilworth Road, we are able to provide an update on the recent knee injury sustained by midfielder Sverre Sandal. Sverre, who signed from Norwegian club KFUM last January, had featured regularly during pre-season for the Hatters before making his fourth competitive appearance in the Carabao Cup first round win at Gillingham last month.

“Unfortunately, following specialist assessment, the initial problem with the 23-year-old's knee has proved more serious and has required surgery to repair, which will keep him sidelined for the foreseeable future. Sverre will receive the love and support of everyone at the club as we all wish him a speedy recovery.”

The setback is a real blow for Sandal, who had been getting closer to featuring for the Hatters, as speaking recently Wilshere stated: “We always knew with Sverre that the pre-season was going to be really, really important for him, to be with the group, to find his rhythm at the same pace as everyone else, to get the game time he needs to get up speed and also to develop to what we want.

"He’s definitely getting close, he gives us something different. He’s probably different to every other midfielder we’ve got in terms of the strengths and what he can bring to the team, so he’s working and he’s working hard. It’s not always been easy for him and I respect that as well, so he’s getting closer."