Leading scorer returns as Hatters make two change for Trotters

Luton have made two changes for this afternoon’s must-win League One clash at Bolton Wanderers, midfield duo Jordan Clark and Jake Richards coming into the side for Shayden Morris and Davy van den Berg.

Top scorer Clark has missed the last three games due to a calf injury, while Richards last started the 2-1 victory over Northampton Town last month. With the Hatters due to be backed by around 3,000 supporters today, then on the role the visiting fans can play, boss Jack Wilshere said: “It’s massive. I’ve said it so much when I came here and a big part of my job in my opinion was to try and connect the players with the fans again as after a double relegation that can affect the relationship.

“Confidence was low within the players, belief was low, and it was like a vicious circle where if you didn’t get the result or the performance that the fans wanted then we needed them to try and brings us that confidence and belief. Sometimes we got it wrong and credit to the fans for sticking with us, but now the connection is there.

"The fans can see a team that they can relate to, that are working hard, that are doing everything they can to try and please them and give them something to cheer about. We’re in a good place with that, we’ve still got work to do as we’ve only been consistent in the last probably 15, 16 games and we have to do that for longer periods. We know that, but they’ve been a massive boost for us and we will need them.”

Trotters: Jack Bonham, Jordi Osei-Tutu, Eoin Toal (C), Chris Forino, Max Conway, Ibrahim Cissoko, Josh Sheehan, Ruben Rodrigues, Amario Cozier-Duberry, Johnny Kenny, Mason Burstow. Subs: David Harrington, Cyrus Christie, Xavier Simons, Kyle Dempsey, Rob Apter, Thierry Gale, John McAtee.

Hatters: Josh Keeley, Izzy Jones, Hakeem Odoffin, Mads Andersen, Kal Naismith (C), Jake Richards, Liam Walsh, Jordan Clark, Kasey Palmer, Emilio Lawrence, Nahki Wells. Subs: James Shea, George Saville, Ali Al-Hamadi, Gideon Kodua, Nigel Lonwijk, Shayden Morris, Davy van den Berg. Referee: Carl Brook.