Jones hails Mpanzu as 'one of the best human beings' he has ever managed

Luton chief Nathan Jones has labelled midfielder Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu as one of the ‘best human beings’ he has ever worked with in his career.

The 26-year-old can divide opinions between Town fans at times, as he did at Hillsborough on Saturday, missing a first half sitter before coming up trumps in the second period with the only goal of a 1-0 win.

Jones had spoken afterwards of a need to just add some composure to his game, and when asked on Monday if that was something that could be coached into him, he said: “You’ve got to understand that Pelly came here as a centre half.

"He played on Saturday and scored as our third striker, so he’s had some development the boy.

“Yes, we can add stuff, but I don’t think we should be saying, ‘well, what hasn’t he got?’

"People say to me, and people I’m close to, are critical of Pelly-Ruddock and they have no idea what that boy does, day in, day out, they have no idea.

“He is one of the best human beings and players I’ve ever come across, in terms of lifting a place, work-rate and wanting to get better.

“The trouble is, he keeps doing what he’s doing, but he started in the Conference and now he’s in the Championship and he’s doing the same things, so he must’ve got better.

“It’s just the level’s get better every year for him, near enough, and he’s adapted to the level. He’s like Harry Cornick and it’s wonderful.”

Jones also felt that people should start appreciating just what it is Mpanzu, who has played 260 times for the club, scoring 19 goals, brings to the table, rather then search for negatives.

He added: “We can keep on about Pelly, about what he doesn’t do, but what does he do?

“He has fantastic energy, he’s a powerhouse, he scores goals from midfield, I can play him anywhere and he’ll adapt.

"He lifts my environment every single day, he works hard, he has quality, he’s a driving force.

“Of all the stuff he hasn’t got, he’s got 100 attributes that I absolutely love.”

Mpanzu has turned himself into one of the most durable members of Town's squad in recent seasons too, topping 50 appearances twice in the last four campaigns and managing 46 games last term.

He hasn't missed a single minute of league action this season either, as on his remarkable turnaround in fitness since he joined Luton from West Ham United in January 2014, Jones added: "If you believe in the work you do, you have good processes, good recovery schedules and then someone buys into something wholeheartedly, then good things can happen.

"It is phenomenal, because he trains every day, he never misses a day’s training, never misses a game, never needs a recovery day.

"He’s never one of the lowest in training, he’s just high on absolutely everything.

"It’s brilliant, it’s phenomenal, what he does.