Luton chief wants to involve midfielder star against Posh as Town striker is deemed fit

Luton boss Jack Wilshere is hoping to be able to use Kasey Palmer in tomorrow’s crucial League One contest against Peterborough United at Kenilworth Road, despite the midfielder only returning from international duty today.

The on-loan Hull City midfielder was part of the Jamaica team who suffered World Cup heartbreak on Tuesday evening, playing 90 minutes of the 1-0 extra time defeat by DR Congo, which dashed the Reggae Boyz dreams of qualifying for the event for the first time since 1998. With the contest taking place in Zapopan, Mexico, it means Palmer, who has excelled during his time at Kenilworth Road since being borrowed from Hull City, scoring in three successive outings recently, is a doubt for a match that Town simply have to win to keep their slim hopes of reaching the play-offs alive.

On his chances of featuring, Wilshere said: “I spoke to him after the game, and he was frustrated. He played well, I watched the game, he kept his form going which is good for us. Obviously we wanted him to be successful so he could come back with a smile on his face, but he has been really good for us, so we’re grateful he came through it and he’s fit. We’ll have to see how he is before tomorrow, but we want him involved.”

Palmer is in more or less the same boat as another on-loan player in striker Ali Al-Hamadi, who started and scored for Iraq, as they did reach the tournament to be staged in America, Canada and Mexico when beating Bolivia in their play-off final. Although he wants both to be available against the Posh, with Town going again in a few days’ time, travelling to AFC Wimbledon on Easter Monday, that might be a better bet, as Wilshere continued: “Ali and Kasey are getting back later this afternoon so we’ll have to see how they are.

"Some things are out of our control, it’s frustrating and annoying at times that we have to play the next day after they get back, but it is what it is. We have to see how they are, but it could bring opportunities for other players as well. I’m in contact with both of them, I spoke to them after to see how they are, see how they’re feeling.

"They’re both keen to be involved as you can imagine, but we have to measure the risk, as they’re both on long flights, they’ll be jet-lagged. Ali hasn’t played that much recently, but Kasey’s been outstanding for us, so they’re important players for us. It’s unfortunate the timing of their game and the timing of our game, but we can’t use that as an excuse.”

There was better news for Luton’s other trio of players who have been away on international duty, with George Saville and Emilio Lawrence getting minutes for Northern Ireland and Scotland U21s, plus forward Nahki Wells, who missed the 1-1 draw with Stockport County last time out due to a hamstring injury that forced him off against Wycombe Wanderers.

Wilshere said: “Sav’s back, Emilio’s back, Josh (Keeley) is back in. They all came back yesterday and trained today. Nahki’s okay too, he’s trained away from the group in the early part of the week, we’ve brought him back into training over the last few days. He feels fine, he looks okay, we’ll have to see how he is, as of course we want him fit for the whole season and we’re now going into eight games in 28 days, but he’s back in training which is good.”

Meanwhile, centre half Mads Adersn is also verging on a return as well, having not featured since the 2-1 win over Northampton on March 4, some six games ago, as Wilshere stated: “Mads trained for the time today. He’s been out a little while longer, he picked up a knock in the Plymouth game, missed the game after that and then came back for Northampton game. Credit to him as he played through the pain barrier, but probably made it a little bit worse, so he’s been out a little bit longer. When that happens, I think his foot’s okay now, but we have to make sure the rest of him can adapt to the intensity again, so he’s probably a little bit further behind, but hopefully not too far away.”

Finally, deadline signing Sverre Sandal could be an option for a longer run-out, as having played a handful of minutes in his two first team cameos, increased his match action by playing for the U21s in their 4-1 defeat to Bromley during the past fortnight, while also being put through his paces in training too.

Wilshere added: “He looks better and better all the time. One thing that’s easy to forget with Sverre is that it’s pre-season for him, and still is probably. He’s coming towards the end of that now, he’s played two or three games with the 21s, he’s trained consistently and he’s definitely getting close to the team. It was important this period for him that he kept working and he kept going, trying to find that consistency, because we’re going to need him between now and the end of the season.”