Potential Ashby and Jones link-up is an 'exciting' one for Luton chief

Luton boss Jack Wilshere admitted the possibility of Izzy Jones and Harrison Ashby combining on the right flank for the Hatters was an ‘exciting’ one.

The pair had only featured fleetingly in the same team following Ashby’s move south on a season-long loan from Newcastle United, that beginning when Jones came on for the final half an hour of the 2-0 Carabao Cup defeat at Premier League Chelsea earlier this month. In total, they have had around 70 minutes of Town’s 12 League One matches to date, both on the field for the second half against Stockport County, also playing in the matches with Leyton Orient and Bradford City.

Although Jones lost his place to Hakeem Odoffin recently, with Ashby, who was suspended for a game following his needless red card in the 1-0 home reverse to Bradford, then picking up a groin injury too, it saw the former Middlesbrough attacker and Guyana international, impress when taking over from the ex-Rotherham captain who picked up a muscle strain in the first half of the 2-1 win over Barnsley.

He then carried on that form when starting the back-to-back victories against Leicester City and Doncaster Rovers, as although it’s doubtful tomorrow’s trip to Peterborough will see the pair unleashed due to Ashby not being ready, asked about having the option to play them together on the same flank, Wilshere said: “Ashby will train for the first time today, it’s (Posh trip) probably too soon for him, but it’s good to have him back.

“Potentially (the two can play together), it’s something we need to develop on training and develop that connection with those two, but that is quite exciting that right hand side. I think there’s also Harrison Ashby playing a little bit higher as well which is something that could happen at some point, with the quality he has to deliver a cross in the final third, so that is something that could happen.”

Jones had to bide his time on the bench due to the settled nature of the Hatters’ XI, but has definitely grabbed his chance when being recalled and, according to Wilshere, deserves plenty of credit for his reaction to being dropped, as the Luton chief added: “We’ve seen recently the consistency of the team selection. While some players should be frustrated with that, players will also be watching and I think Izzy Jones is a really good example of that when coming into the team.

"He was out of the team and Haks was playing right back which probably frustrated him a little bit, but he used it in the right way and has come into a consistent back-line who are performing really well. He knows what he has to do and he’s done that really well. Players looking in from the side will see that, will know what they have to do to get into this team and that creates good competition.”