Ince determined to put his name 'back on the map' after leaving Stoke for Luton

Deadline day signing Tom Ince is determined to put his name ‘back on the map’ after agreeing to spend the second half of the season at Luton Town.

The 29-year-old joined the Hatters from Stoke City late on Monday evening, after a disappointing recent spell at the Potters, playing just 13 times since the campaign resumed following lockdown last term, with only four starts, while hadn't even made the match-day squad for the last three matches.

After linking up with Town and former Potters boss Nathan Jones, who he played under at the Bet 365 Stadium, Ince, who cost City £10m from Huddersfield in July 2018, and has played for England at U17, U19 and U21 level, said: “I feel like the last 12 months has been a bit stagnated for me, especially the last eight months where I’ve hardly had any game time of any significance.

“So for me it’s just about a fresh start for these next few months, to come in, play with that freedom, to get back enjoying football again.

“It’s difficult when you’re not even involved in squads and you’re sat at home at the weekend watching Gillette Soccer (Saturday), it’s not a feeling that I want to happen.

“To get the opportunity to come here at a team that’s doing so well in the Championship, to bring what I can to the table and try and help this team, that’s my main aim, my main focus.

“From an individual point of view, it’s to put my name back on the map and show that I am capable of providing quality and bringing real quality to teams and I’m more than happy to do that right there, right now.”

With it looking like he might have been frozen out at the Bet 365 Stadium by City manager Michael O’Neill, Ince jumped at the chance to move to Kenilworth Road and reignite his career with the Hatters.

He added: “Sometimes these things are out of your control.

“I always felt that I hadn’t been given enough game time up until yesterday.

“Obviously my big worry was moving forward from that, would I get the opportunity?

“The manager at Stoke brought in a fair few wide players on loan so I was pushed to the back of that pecking order and I felt like it was one of those, if something happened then great, if it wasn’t then I had to get my head round the fact I’d have to sit there for the remainder of the season and bide my time if that opportunity came again.

“I think as soon as the call came, the enquiry was made and I had a chat with the manager Nathan, he just said ‘the way we play here, you will love it, you will love the characters, love the players.’

“It felt good and I felt it was a chance for me to just have a fresh start for the last few months of the season, get my fitness back, try and bring some quality to this team and try and give them a helping hand, that is all I can do.

“Work hard in training each week, come to a Saturday and be prepared to give it my all.”

With Town struggling for goals this season, particularly away from home, then Ince, who has been a regular on the scoresheet during his career, with 31 goals in 100 league games for Blackpool between 2011-14 and then a superb spell at Derby between 2015-2017, where he netted 37 times in 105 appearances, is confident he can help out with either finishing chances or creating them.

He said: "The gaffer spoke to me briefly and said it’s a terrific group with terrific character, desire and hunger and we play some nice stuff, it’s just that final bit, that final killer touch, or that final pass or that finish.

"He’s said just to come in and bring your qualities that you’ve got, you know you can score at this level, you know you’re proven already at this level, that you’re more than capable of being a threat and the biggest thing for me is to try and replicate that.

"Try to show people that it isn’t just a case of you haven't played for the last eight months so I’ve just gone anywhere to get some game time, I've come to a good club with good players, a great direction to move forward.

"It’s going to give me the opportunity to express myself and show people what I can do."

On what position he feels gives him the best opportunity to showcase his talents, Ince added: “I’ve always played anywhere across the front three, apart from striker.

"I’ve played number 10 off the striker, but my favourite position that I’ve played the majority of my career is off the right hand side.

"I can play on the left hand side, so anywhere across that middle three line.

"I know the manager tweaks and twists with the formation, whatever he feels is the best solution for going into games, and all I can do is work on that in training.

"There’s no guarantee for me to come in and play every week, I have to be given the opportunity which I’m sure the manager will do and then it’s up to me to go on and provide and try and create chances for this football team, try to win some games and keep this form going.

"That’s all I’m here to do, try and help this team and the moments I get and the minutes I get, it’s up to me to provide and do what I do best."