Hylton thrilled to still be wanted by Hatters

Forward on signing a new deal with Luton
Town striker Danny Hylton in action against Huddersfield TownTown striker Danny Hylton in action against Huddersfield Town
Town striker Danny Hylton in action against Huddersfield Town

Striker Danny Hylton admitted it was a huge relief knowing he was still wanted by the Hatters after agreeing a new contract at Kenilworth Road last week.

The 31-year-old forward had potentially been in the position of having to find new employers over the summer, until he penned a two year deal on Friday.

Speaking about how the negotiations went, Hylton said: “There was a conversation before the season ended, and I believe one of the reasons why they couldn’t offer contracts before was because they didn’t know what league we were going to be in.

“I then probably had a contract offer over to me by one o’clock in the morning on the day of that (Blackburn) game, so it was very quickly actually – and I’m very appreciative to the gaffer (Nathan Jones) and Gary Sweet and everyone on the board that they didn’t mess around.

“They came to me with a contract offer almost immediately, and as I’ve said, I don’t want to be anywhere else.

“I love the club and I love where I am, so everything went quite smoothly.

“As a footballer you want to know that you’re wanted I suppose, and you are going to want that – not security, but you’re going to want that stability to know where you’re going to be.

“It was a great conversation for me because I knew that I wanted to be there and I knew that he (Jones) wanted me.

“So in the back of my mind I thought ‘right, whatever happens, I’m going to be here.’

“I know the gaffer (Nathan Jones) quite well, he just puts confidence in me and it takes that pressure off a bit to go out there and run around and play football without the worry of a contract at the back of your mind.”

Hylton, who has played 129 times for Luton, scoring 58 goals since signing on a free from Oxford United back in the summer of 2016, did reveal he thought his time with Town might be over.

Under previous boss Graeme Jones, Hylton barely featured in the Championship campaign, getting just a couple of minutes in two substitute appearances despite regaining full fitness.

It made him doubt at times where his future would lie, continuing: "I try not to think about it really, because I had rehab to get on with and then trying to get back in the team and training.

“Of course it crosses your mind a little bit.

"I wasn’t playing or featuring under Graeme Jones, but I’m always confident that if given a period of time in training and games that I can do the business.

“So it’s more the fact that I’m delighted to get the two year contract signed and just looking forward to getting the fittest I’ve been in the last couple of years, the strongest I’ve been in the last couple of years, and just get back to playing games and getting back to the football that I know I can play.”

As soon as Nathan Jones returned to take charge, Hylton was back in, playing a part in all nine games after the season resumed following lockdown as Luton completed their great escape from relegation.

The forward looked to be getting back to somewhere near his best too, particularly when coming on at Hull City as Town struck late on through Kazenga LuaLua to secure an absolutely crucial victory.

On the role he had, Hylton added: "I was happy to feature in all the games and I thank the manager for showing faith in me.

“It’s not about me, it’s about getting a team out there and finding the best way to get results with the group of lads we had in the situation we were in.

“It was a massive effort from everyone, and we were delighted with the way it went.

“When you’re playing and you’re winning and you’re getting results, you’re going to enjoy games.

“I want to start every single game of the season if I need to, but we’ve got a squad and I was happy that I started two and came on in seven of them.

“This is a great group of lads, you’re not going to start every single game, no-one’s going to start every game, people are going to play different amounts.

“The gaffer’s big on game-changers, so we know our roles, everyone knows our roles.

“I was delighted to come on and help the team in any way I could when called upon.”