Luton chief knows it will be a tough challenge going up against Premier League Terriers

Hatters boss Nathan Jones appreciates just how difficult a task it will be for his Luton side going up against a Premier League squad in Huddefsfield this evening.

The Terriers have managed to keep hold of a whole host of players from their time in the top flight last term, with the likes of Karlan Grant, Alex Pritchard and Jonathan Hogg staying put.

They also used the loan market well during January, bringing in goalkeeper Jonas Lossl from Everton, pus Arsenal's Emile Smith Rowe and Leicester midfielder Andy King to name just three.

Despite their expensive squad, Huddersfield are only six points ahead of Luton going into the game, as Jones said: "I think you’ll find pretty much all those players were playing in the Premier League.

"They've signed one or two, the left back (Harry) Toffolo (from Lincoln), but pretty much everyone in the Huddersfield squad was playing in the Premier League last year.

"That’s what you come up against in the Championship, it’s a wonderful league, I think it’s the toughest league from top to bottom.

"Obviously the Premier League has world class players and you can get really hurt by top teams, but in terms of the competitiveness, 46 games, where anyone can win a game, where you have to be tactically prepared, physically prepared, every single game of the season, the Championship for me is as tough a league as there is.

"It’s probably in the top six leagues in Europe, so for us to be competing in it and still competing in it is a big feat.

"What we want to do is make sure we can stay in it, so we can grow and learn."

In charge at the John Smith's Stadium is former Lincoln City chief Danny Cowley, who took over in September 2019, and is someone Jones came up against in League Two.

He knows full well what a difficult challenge it is going into manage at an ex-Premier League side, saying: "Danny’s got a similar job to what I had previously at Stoke, a club that have come down from the Premier League.

"He’s had the fall-out from that and he's had a tough job.

"I know Danny very well, he’s very professional, very thorough, hard working and does good work, so I know it will be a tough game.

"When you go up against an ex-Premier League side, it’s not going to be anything but tough.

"When you’re away from home it’s tough, when it’s a game every two and a half days effectively, it’s even tougher and when they are desperate for the points like you are, it adds to everything.

"So if it can be any tougher, then let me know."

Since the Championship restarted, Hatters have picked up two good results on the road, winning at Swansea City and then holding league leaders Leeds United to a 1-1 draw at Elland Road.

On why away sides have fared so well thus far, Jones added: "If you have a look at results, people are picking up results away from home, people who have been fantastic at home are not winning, people who have been really poor on the road have picked up results.

"So it’s just a really unprecedented time and that's why you just don’t know.

"What you have to try and do is make sure that for every game you are prepared,

"Yes you’re going to be be fatigued, but mentally it’s a big part of playing everything and then you try and get the results that you need."