Lawless hopes Daggers goal will bolster his claims

The 30-year-old had been restricted to just seven appearances so far this term, with his only other start coming in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.

However, he was named in the XI at Dagenham & Redbridge on Sunday afternoon, netting Luton’s crucial second in a 2-0 victory.

Lawless said: “It was a long time coming for me that start and I was just chuffed to bits to be playing.

“Then the aim is, you train all week to come and win a game. To come and do that and the bonus of getting a goal is great, so I want to play more now.”

Lawless, who has been deployed as wing back at times this season, was on the right of Luton’s three-pronged attacking midfield behind striker Jack Marriott.

It was a role he was more than happy to fill, continuing: “That’s one of my favourites positions, it was great to get an opportunity to play there, and to nip in with a goal.

“Hopefully it will help me to get into the team more regularly and get more goals.

“Those types of things help player’s confidence, I’m sure that will help me and I can take it on.”

Lawless, who endured an injury-hit campaign last season, was thankful his afternoon hadn’t been ended early after rash challenge by Dagenham’s Jack Connors

It drew a heated reaction from the midfielder, who was cautioned himself, as he added: “When you’ve had injuries over the years and you’re not getting as many opportunities to play as you want and someone comes in with a silly challenge that, in the back of your mind could put you out for a little bit again, that all that comes straight to you straight away.

“It just annoyed me as I felt as if there was no need for it whatsoever.

“So yes okay the referee might say that my reaction wasn’t great and that’s why he booked me.

“But I feel if I didn’t react like that, then nothing would have been done.

“I didn’t need pumping up for the game as I was already pumped up, but it’s one of them, where hopefully it might have triggered a few of us to get going.”