'Marquee' signing Berry hailed as a 'wonderful human being' by Luton chief as he approaches milestone

Town midfielder Luke Berry has been described as an ‘absolutely magnificent’ purchase by boss Nathan Jones ahead of what will be his 100th appearance for the club if selected against Birmingham City this evening.

The 28-year-old was signed by Jones during his first spell in charge of the Hatters back in August 2017 from Cambridge United, Town shelling out a fair sum to get the player who had finished the campaign with 22 goals for the U's.

He has gone on to play a prominent role in Luton's promotion from League Two to the Championship and will become one of a host of centurions in the Hatters' squad should he feature in tonight's contest.

Jones said: “He’s been absolutely magnificent.

“We brought him in as a goalscoring midfielder, he was the highest goalscoring midfielder in the lower leagues and that’s why we brought him in.

“He was a marquee signing at the time, but someone we had an eye on always being able to play in the Championship and he’s proving that.

“It’s the same conversation we had about Sonny Bradley, Matty Pearson, people like that, we recruited these in League Two and they are now still producing in the Championship.

“So it just rubber stamps our recruitment process, rubber stamps the eye we had on people and I’m just so, so delighted as he’s a great lad.

“He trains brilliantly, has done well at every level, picked up an injury which set him back a little bit, but came back even stronger and delighted that he’s ours.”

The midfielder himself wasn’t aware that the milestone was approaching, but after penning a new two year deal in the summer, didn't want to be anywhere else.

He said: “I’ve had my ankle problem and things like that, so it’s good really, it’s my fourth season so not too bad.

“I love it here, love the group of players.

"It’s unfortunate the fans aren’t here, but I love the fans and the atmosphere they bring here is fantastic, the sooner they get back the better.”

Berry’s injury was a horrific one at that, as few who were there will forget the moment he suffered a double leg break during the early stages of the clash at Colchester United on March 30, 2018.

He was back playing regularly again in December though and despite finding it tough under previous boss Graeme Jones, is now establishing himself as a first team regular once more since Nathan Jones returned.

On fighting back from the injury, Jones said: “It shows great character, shows the medical department, shows the work we put into them, and shows a real desire of the lad to do well.

“We love him here, he’s done fantastically well for us, never, ever lets me down and to be honest with you, over-exerts himself to the maximum for me.

“Since we brought him in and he’s a key member of everything we do.”

Berry is also beginning to add goals again now, as he netted a second at the weekend, timing his run into the box to flick James Collins’ cross-shot beyond Blackburn Rovers goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski during the 1-1 draw.

It was his 14th for Town and 65th in 339 overall league appearances, as he continued to provide the attacking threat he has had all throughout his career.

Jones added: “We want him to get goals as we paid real good money for him at the time.

"The board really backed our judgement on that and paid a lot of money for a League Two side to bring in someone like Luke and he’s repaid that as he’s scored goals at every level he’s been at.

"That’s the good thing, he’s an all-round midfielder, he does a lot of things, but he’s also brilliant around the place and excellent in the changing room.

"We didn't just sign a really good player for us, we signed a wonderful human being and that has enabled us to move forward as a club.”