Luton boss concedes it has been 'difficult' leaving popular Mpanzu out of the Hatters XI

Luton boss Rob Edwards conceded it has been ‘difficult’ not giving club legend midfielder Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu more first team minutes this season.

The 30-year-old has played just six times in the Championship so far, although only once in the last 11 matches, that when getting a late cameo during the 1-0 victory over Hull City last month. In total, Mpanzu, who became the only player to go from non-league to the Premier League with the same club last season, has managed just 95 minutes, and hasn’t started a league game since the 2-0 top flight defeat at Arsenal back in April.

Although he has been a regular in the match-day squad, Mpanzu still hasn’t got the nod despite the number of injuries Town have picked up during games, and discussing the selection headache in not calling on him, Edwards said: “It’s always been difficult to leave out Pelly, he’s been brilliant and always gives everything all the time. It’s been hard and I think that middle of the pitch area is somewhere that’s been pretty competitive, so it’s been hard to leave him or even Marv (Marvelous Nakamba), people like that, out. But those are some decisions that we have to make and it’s really difficult at times.

"He’s someone I’ve got the utmost respect for, love him, and that bit’s hard. But he gives us everything every day, he’s always here, he’s always himself and that’s really, really important. It will be frustrating for him because like any player, he wants to play, he wants to perform and has always been used to that for so long, but he’s a really important part of the group.”

Although Mpanzu has still been able to maintain his positive attitude around the Brache, Edwards knows it will be hard for a player who is the club’s 11th longest serving player in their history, with 408 appearances under his belt to date. The boss added: “It will affect him, but he doesn't let that show and that’s important. Because especially in challenging times like this as well, what you don’t want then is everyone, and they haven’t, people have been great, players that haven’t been starting regularly have been very respectful and are working really hard and pushing the group

"So I couldn't want for any more there, but in the end we always try to select from what we've seen on the training pitch or what we feel is the right option going into the games. I suppose you only get it right if you win and there’s always going to be, what about him and what about him? But there’s always a few difficult decisions and Pelly’s one of those, because of what he means to this club.”