Jones: If I had a crystal ball I'd have kept Peter Kioso at Luton

Town boss could recall the full back in January
Peter Kioso in action for Bolton Wanderers this seasonPeter Kioso in action for Bolton Wanderers this season
Peter Kioso in action for Bolton Wanderers this season

Luton boss Nathan Jones admitted if he could turn back time, he wouldn’t have sent defender Peter Kioso out on loan to Bolton Wanderers this season.

The 21-year-old moved to the Trotters in October and has gone on to play 12 games so far, scoring twice, earning some rave reviews from the Trotters faithful.

Although Jones is more than happy with how the former Dunstable and Hartlepool player is progressing, with a stretched squad due to the congested fixture schedule term, plus an injury to Martin Cranie, James Bree still on his way back to full fitness and now Matty Pearson suspended for one game, it has left him short of options in the right back area.

Ahead of tonight's trip to Coventry City, the Town chief said: “I just don’t think you can forward plan anymore, because you suddenly think we’re in a good place, Peter Kioso’s had a wonderful time at Bolton, but if I had a crystal ball, I probably wouldn't have let him go out.

“Now, it’s the right thing to do for his development and it hasn’t seemed to hinder us too much, but it would be nice to have that option.

“Then we’ve let Gaby Osho go as well to Yeovil.

"We're trying to develop two players along the way so that they eventually come back in better shape for us, but it’s just unprecedented.

“Suddenly you can have a full squad and in two weeks you can be decimated and that’s because of the schedule.

"Anyone outside of football, that tries to say that dispensation shouldnt be given here or there, is mental, because it’s crazy.”

Kioso’s loan is for the rest of the season, but Town do have a recall option when the transfer window opens in January, something that Jones might consider.

He added: “If necessary, the option is there.

"We’re not saying anything yet as there’s a long way to go and we want him to continue his development as he's having a wonderful loan there and developing at a good club, so there's no problem.

"It's just we have to monitor the situation constantly, because if we were to lose Matty Pearson and Bree for example, then we would leave ourselves open.

"We haven't got the scope to go at spend a load of money on another right back, so that’s when it will transpire, but we don't know yet.”