Osho ready to fight for his place at Luton as Town boss decides whether former Reading defender will be loaned out again

Defender Gabriel Osho wants to fight for a place in the Hatters side this season after making his return from a loan spell at Yeovil Town recently.

The 22-year-old joined Luton on a free transfer in November following his exit from Championship rivals Reading, before heading out to Huish Park for the second time in his career soon after becoming a Town player, making four appearances, before being recalled last month.

Osho then made his Hatters debut in the 1-0 FA Cup win over his former team on Saturday, giving an impressive display in the heart of defence.

When asked what his plans were now, Osho said: “I’m here trying to battle for my place, I’ll take it day by day really, and hopefully I can push into the team.

“If not, then I guess we can look at that (a loan move), but my main focus is to try and get into this team.

“We have a good squad, a big squad, so everybody will be needed in that period of time, and I’m sure everyone will be ready for it.

“I didn’t have a pre-season, so when I came in, me and the gaffer just decided it would probably be best for me to go and get some men’s games, get my fitness back up, come back in now and try to see if I can help with the team.”

Manager Nathan Jones also knows that he faces a decision over how best to use Osho for the second half of the campaign, with a number of options available to him in the central defence and full back positions.

On that and his debut for the club at the weekend, the Town chief said: “He’s had a few games for Yeovil, which without being disrespectful is a different level to what he’s come up against today (Saturday).

“I thought he did very well, we know what he’s got, he’s got athleticism, and he gives us a decent option.

“We’ve got a decision to make with him, whether we keep him around, or whether we loan him for development, but he showed he can fit in and I thought he was very good.”

The game itself on Saturday saw Osho line up in a newlook back-line for the Hatters, paired with Dan Potts in the heart of defence, as James Bree and Brendan Galloway took the full back slots, with Jones making a raft of changes.

Osho’s previous outing at Kenilwolrth Road had come when as a Reading player he was part of the side who hammered Luton 5-0 after lockdown ended last season, where he occupied the right back berth.

On the game and his change of role, the Newham-born defender said: “We had a couple of days worth (of preparation), it wasn’t that much, but the gaffer just said it was important to talk to each other in the game and I think everyone in the back four did that well.

“We just managed the game as we were playing, lots of communication between us both throughout the 90 minutes.

“We kind of controlled the game, we controlled the back four well and we were happy to get the clean sheet.

“I’m happy to play either, naturally I’ve grown up playing centre back, but I recently played right back, so I don’t mind either really.”

The defender knew just what to expect going up against a side he spent four years at as well, and was more than happy to get through to the next round with a shut-out on his debut.

He added: “We started well in the first half, got the lead, then we knew they were going to come out and apply a bit of pressure in the second half.

“They hit the bar, couple of last ditch challenges, but all that matters is we got the win.

“I was trying to tell the boys all the things they’d be doing and the way they come out and play, it was good to see a couple of familiar faces, but I’m happy to be on the winning side.

“Sometimes everything’s just in your favour and it was one of those days, especially defensively.

“It was a great finish from Moncs (George Moncur), great ball in from Breesy (James Bree).

"We probably left that kind of way we were playing in the first half in the second, but it’s just important we got the win."