Jones aware of the threat City striker Scott Hogan could cause his Town side after signing him for Stoke

Luton chief Nathan Jones knows full well just what a threat striker Scott Hogan could be for Birmingham City when the Blues travel to Kenilworth Road for this evening's Championship encounter.

The 28-year-old was one of Jones' final signings during his time as manager of Stoke City in August 2019, bringing the attacker in from Aston Villa on what was originally a season-long loan.

He scored two goals in 12 appearances before Jones was sacked by the Potters in November, the Irish international falling out of favour with his successor Michael O'Neill and moving to St Andrews in January this year on loan, netting seven in 18 games to make the move permanent over the summer.

Hogan has been on target just once so far this term, and was an unused substitute in the 0-0 draw at Coventry City on Friday night, as Jones said: “I know Scott really well.

“He’s someone that we brought in right on deadline day, he’s a great lad and it will be good to see him.

“He really wanted to do well for me and probably didn’t have enough time to work with him to show him that we could improve him, but he worked hard for me.

“He scored a really vital goal for me, away at Swansea, and he scored some others and had a big contribution in a lot of the goals we scored.

“When we did get positive results he was always a player that showed up, so I’ll be delighted to see him.”

Hogan is joined in the Blues squad by former Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest midfielder Gary Gardner, who was with Brighton & Hove Albion for six months in August 2014 at the same times as Jones was a member of the Seagulls backroom staff.

The Luton chief added: “I had Gary at Brighton, so I know him quite well.

“He was on loan and I was assistant there. I had a brief spell as manager but I know Gary very, very well.

“There’s a few at Birmingham that I know, but that will all be forgotten when the game starts and I’m sure they’ll feel exactly the same.”