Potts out of Luton's trip Barnsley as on-loan Blades defender impresses during debut

Luton boss Nathan Jones has reported a virtually fully fit squad for the Championship opener at Barnsley on Saturday.

Defender Dan Potts is absent after not featuring in the club’s pre-season campaign at all due to a foot injury, with both long-term absentees Brendan Galloway and Eunan O’Kane missing too.

On Potts' progress, the ex-West Ham youngster also missing the final two games last term, Jones said: “He's in a better place, he won’t be fit for this game, but he’s not too far off.

“It will give us competition as that's probably the only area with Brendan being injured as well that we’ve not really got as much cover as we would like.

"We want competition in that area, and if we get that then brilliant.

“The squad’s in a good place, it’s going to have to be because games come thick and fast.

"We start the season with a three game week, leading into a real intense time and we’ve got a real tough month ahead of us.

"So we're in a good place, but we know that the challenges now will come thick and fast.”

Taking Potts’ place for the 3-1 Carabao Cup win over Norwich City on Saturday was on-loan Sheffield United full back Rhys Norrington-Davies, who impressed from the word go on his debut for the club despite signing just two days earlier.

Jones added: “That’s difficult sometimes to do, but he’s come in and settled in.

"He’s someone I like, someone I’ve watched and I’m looking forward to seeing how he develops as I’m pleased we’ve got him in.

"It was a real good acquisition for us to give us real strength in that area and with Dan Potts coming back, we’ve got real competition.

"It’s always tough to come into a squad and hit the ground running, so hopefully he’ll be better for the game last week.

"He’s had another week’s training with everyone, so he’s in a better place.”