Jones happy to play wherever Wilshere wants as he targets injury-free end to the season

Town winger Izzy Jones is looking to finally put a frustrating season behind him by remaining fit to help the Hatters in their bid to reach the League One play-offs, in whatever position manager Jack Wilshere sees fit.

The 26-year-old has had a stopstart time of it this term to put it mildly, as he missed the first three months due to a stress fracture in his back that he suffered before things even kicked off in July, eventually returning on October 25, coming on to set up Lamine Fanne’s winner against Northampton Town. Jones then scored in the 3-0 victory at Stockport County, but beginning the 5-0 loss at Barnsley, he went off at half time and wasn’t seen for the next two months, eventually named in the squad for the recent 1-0 success over Blackpool, brought on in the second half of that contest.

Getting more minutes as Bradford City were defeated 2-1, he then started at the weekend, the attacker able to complete the full 90 minutes although despite winning a first half penalty that Jordan Clark converted, it wasn’t a day to remember, Luton beaten 3-1 by league leaders Cardiff City. Asked about his comeback, the Guyana international said: “It’s been a frustrating six months, so it’s nice to be back on the pitch, but I’m disappointed about the result. I had an ankle injury for the AITFL (anterior inferior tibiofibular ligament), a ligament that you need in your ankle and it just took time to heal.

"I’m happy now and just thank the medical team for getting me back to this position and hopefully I can stay injury-free and fit for the rest of the season, but you never know what happens in football. I’m just happy to be back and trying to help the team win games. Unfortunately today (Saturday) wasn’t meant to be, but we’ve got another game on Wednesday and we need to give the fans something to cheer after travelling such a long way.”

Now he is available once more, Jones has already featured in a few roles for the Hatters, playing on the left against Bradford last week, while on Saturday, he began on the right wing, then moving over to the left flank once more for the second period. Boss Jack Wilshere has spoken about how he sees the ex-Middlesbrough attacker as his preferred right back going forward too, revealing it’s a position the attacker says is his favourite, as on maybe getting a run in Luton’s defence, Jones continued: “I’ve always had versatility in my game, it’s nice to be back on the pitch and wherever the gaffer wants me to play, I’ll give 100 percent as I’ve got the utmost respect for him.

“Hopefully if I start again on Wednesday I’ll do the same thing, give 100 percent as always and try to help the team get three points. I don’t mind playing right back, I can play there, I’ve played there numerous times. I can play wingback as well and on the wings. I’m a versatile player, but Nige (Nigel Lonwijk) is doing so well, so I don’t think it’s good to upset the balance of the team at the moment.

"I know we lost and you could say maybe we have to change it, but I think the back four has been good the last couple of weeks so I don’t think there’s any need to change it unless the gaffer wants to and that’s why the gaffer gets paid to make those tough decisions. I can play right back, I don’t mind playing right back, the way the gaffer wants to play, it suits me as well, so I don’t mind it.”

Jones will now hope to be part of the side who can finally end the Hatters’ awful run on the road, which stretched to five straight defeats on Saturday and taking just one point from a possible 21, when travelling to struggling Wigan Athletic tonight. On the terrible sequence of results, the winger added: “It’s disappointing, very disappointing to lose that many away games in a row, but it’s only us that can change it and it needs to start Wednesday night. It’s a big game, we’ve got to give 100 percent as always and hopefully we come on the right side of the result and give the fans something to cheer about.”