Jones pays 'wonderful' Shinnie a glowing tribute after he makes loan move to Charlton

Luton boss Nathan Jones paid a glowing tribute to Andrew Shinnie after the midfielder left Town for Charlton Athletic on transfer deadline day last week.

The 31-year-old moved to the Valley until the end of the season and could well have kicked his final ball in a Hatters shirt, with his contract up in the summer.

Shinnie has struggled for first team football this term, playing only two Carabao Cup games, while only making two starts in the league after Jones returned as manager last season.

Although the Town manager didn’t want him to leave the club, when asked if the move was down to the midfielder not thinking he would feature enough this term, he said: “Maybe in his mind, it was a tough decision though, I care about these players.

“We want to improve on every level and we keep doing that.

“Shins has been wonderful for us, but I understood why he made the choice.

“Realistically, Charlton’s a good club with a good manager and they play the way that probably suits him, so if we’re looking at longevity for him, it’s kind of a logical decision.

“But at no point did I want him to go, at no point did I say ‘I want you to go,’ but what it has enabled us to do is to bring in (Kiernan) Dewsbury-Hall, who could be one for the future and we’ve got Joe Morell in who is a different age too.”

Shinnie signed for Jones during the manager’s first spell in charge at Kenilworth Road back in June 2017, dropping down from the second tier, where he was with Birmingham City, to spend the League Two campaign at Town.

Although he played 34 times, after not featuring from late March onwards, Jones revealed Shinnie had wondered if he was still wanted by Town.

He was, penning a permanent contract following his release from St Andrews and has racked up 106 appearances since, scoring 10 goals, as Luton won back-to-back promotions to reach the Championship.

The Scottish international enjoyed a stellar campaign during the club's League One title win, where he was a prominent figure linking up with Jack Stacey for a number of James Collins; goals, as Jones continued: “Let's not forget Andrew Shinnie has been wonderful for this club and there's a lot you won’t know about Andrew Shinnie.

“Andrew Shinnie was at Birmingham in the Championship and took a 50 per cent pay cut to come to us, because he wanted to play football, he wanted to play in the right environment and then ironically, recouped that.

“But he bought into everything we did and that’s what we love here and Andrew’s been wonderful.

“Even at the time when he finished the (League Two) season really disappointed because he didn’t feature in the last few games, he didn't feel he had a future here.

“I had to reassure him that he did and then he was arguably one of the best players, if it hadn’t been for the full backs he probably would have got Player of the Year (in League One) he was that good.

“I think he got Player’s Player (of the year), so that’s the contribution he made and he made a contribution to us last year when I came back in especially.

“I can’t speak prior to that, but he played away in important games where we picked up points, he was ready and he trained, so he was massive (for us).

“I wish him all the best and it was a tough decision, I’m sorry to harp on, but he needs to be remembered fondly at this club as so much has gone on and so much he did for us that you won't have seen and that fans won’t have seen.

“We’re really happy that he’s found a little bit of a good home, and we wish him all the best.”

Shinne joined Peter Kioso in moving away from Kenilworth Road on season-long loans before the window closed, as Jones revealed others in his squad had also garnered interest.

The boss added: “Yes we did, nothing that went 'wow, we’ve got to do,' but mostly for players that haven’t featured as much yet, but that’s not to say that they won’t."