Jones believes Potts' best position will be in central defence

Luton boss Nathan Jones believes that former West Ham youngster Dan Potts will eventually move into a central defensive role, insisting that's where he is best suited.

The 26-year-old has predominantly filled a left back berth during his 162 appearances for the Hatters since arriving at Kenilworth Road from Upton Park in May 2015.

He did play centrally once, in a 3-2 Checkatrade Trophy win at Swindon in December 2016, but in recent weeks it has become more of a regular occurrence.

Potts started alongside Gabriel Osho in the heart of Town's back-line against Reading in the FA Cup, also handed the captain's armband, while he then became part of the three in Saturday's 1-0 win at Bournemouth after an early injury to Tom Lockyer.

It's an area that Jones thinks is tailor-made for his attributes, saying: "I think that’s his best position, his best position is left-side centre half of a three.

"He’s excellent in the air, for a centre half he can defend one-v-one as well as anyone and being a full-back, he can bring the ball out, so that’s where I see him long-term.

"I think he knows that, I think that’s his natural position, so it gives us good options."

Had fellow full back Rhys Norrington-Davies remained at the club instead of returning to parent club Sheffield United and then leaving for Stoke City, Potts might have had more chance to play in a back three, as Jones continued: "We always looked at that but we never really had them both fit.

"We never had (James) Bree, Potts and Rhys fit, apart from the game just after he (Norrington-Davies) left.

“If he’d stayed, all three of those could be playing."

Potts does now face increased competition for his left back slot once more from new addition Kal Naismith, who has impressed during his appearances off the bench in the last two games.

Although the 28-year-old can be deployed in a number of positions, it's the full back area where he has been signed to strengthen, as Jones added: "We know we have that versatility and that’s predominantly what we brought him into replace, because we lost a left back and we wanted to replace a left back and we have.

“If Dan Potts does particularly well then we know we have an option elsewhere and he gives us that option.

“He came on a lot earlier than we anticipated (against Bournemouth) because he’s hardly trained, so every minute he gets now is money in the bank.

"You want balance in the squad, and that’s what we have now.

"We’ve got a number of people that can play in a number of positions, so it gives me a massive headache.

“I’ve already said, it was the hardest bench I’ve ever picked (at the Vitality Stadium), in terms of players we left behind, because everyone is training at a good level, everyone has a case to start or be on the bench.

“The bench is sometimes difficult because you think of every scenario you’ll need and pick a bench. That’s very difficult with the level of quality we have at the minute."