Jones reveals what Town midfielder Morrell needs to do to become a top Champonship player

Hatters midfielder Joe Morrell must improve his defensive play in order to become a top Championship player, according to boss Nathan Jones.

The 24-year-old started only his fourth league game for the club on Tuesday night and first since December following his move from Bristol City back in October.

He has made just five more substitute appearances despite being a constant member of the Wales squad, as when asked what he needed to do to become a regular for the Hatters, Jones said: “In that role you need to be defensively excellent.

"Joe is better in possession than he is out, same as other players are better out of possession than they are in, and it’s just that work to get them up to the level.

“Someone like N’golo Kante for example, is outstanding at both and that’s why he’s playing for Chelsea and he’s a World Cup winner, so that’s the benchmark, and (Claude) Makele’s and people like that who can do that role.

"We've got to find ones that have a bit of both and we develop those, so he's never going to be be the finished article, but that’s the work we need to do.”

However, Morrell was praised for the manner in which he kept himself ready for an opportunity, and the standard of his performance after so long out against Millwall in midweek, as he took the holding midfield berth from Glen Rea, producing an passing accuracy rate of 86.5 per cent in his 65 minutes on the pitch.

Jones added: “Joe does what he does well, he can control the game and give you that security in possession.

"Other stuff he needs to work on so he becomes a top Championship player, but what he’s here for he does give us.

"He played very, very well and he’s a great character, he’s kept himself right on tip top form in terms of conditioning.

"He’s had a few injuries which have curtailed his rhythm, but we brought him here to do certain things and he’s doing them.”