Recalled Luton winger knows he must do his talking on the pitch
Attacker has started Town’s last two league matches
Luton winger Shayden Morris knows he has to do his talking out on the pitch if he wants to remain in the Hatters XI for the rest of the campaign.
The 24-year-old has been in and out since boss Jack Wilshere took over, starting five games in League One, before a spell on the bench recently, playing just seven minutes in his three appearances. With the boss stating that Morris has been asking him about his limited first team football, he then came on at half time against Northampton Town earlier this month, with a terrific display helping the Hatters triumph 2-1.
That led to a start at Mansfield Town on Saturday, Morris scoring his sixth goal of the campaign during the 2-2 draw, brilliantly chesting down Kasey Palmer’s pinpoint crossfield pass, skipping away from his marker and finding the net, he then made successive league starts for only the fourth time since his summer move from Aberdeen when remaining in the side for Tuesday night’s trip to Rotherham United. He repaid his manager’s faith as well, setting up Palmer to make it 1-0, then picking out his team-mate’s run just before the break with a fine cross, as he doubled his tally for the evening to secure a vital 2-0 triumph.
Asked about his discussions with Wilshere when he was out of the team, Morris said: “I’ve had to be patient. I saw the gaffer said I’ve been knocking on his door which I have been, but that’s what I’ve got to do, keep working hard and then when I get my chance like I did, try and take it so I can help the team. That’s the thing with football, it changes so quickly so you’ve got to always stay ready.
"I’ve stayed ready, I’ve wanted to play more, I’ve asked to play more, so when my chance comes I have to take it which I think I did. When we do have our personal conversations, he tells me what I need to work on. I say what I feel at that time and then at the end of the day, it’s just about being ready, as I can talk as much as I want, but the talking that only matters is out on the pitch. It was really good to get the start (on Saturday) and hopefully I can just keep pushing until the end of the season, but most importantly I just want to get into the play-offs."
On what it was like having someone at the helm who he felt he could approach about such issues, Morris continued: “It’s good to build a relationship as sometimes you think you’re right, sometimes the manager’s got a different opinion. It’s important to know what other people are thinking so you know when you have your chance you know what to do. I just want to help the team as much as I can. I know my qualities, I know I can get assists and goals. I just love getting on the pitch as when I’m there I can provide.”
Discussing the winger’s impact at the weekend, as he took his opportunity to impress on the right flank with both hands, having had to play second fiddle to Jake Richards in recent weeks, Wilshere himself said: “Northampton at home when he came on he was excellent, it was probably the best I’ve seen him, I thought he continued that at the weekend, got his goal, he’s claiming it, and his challenge is to show that when you’re an athlete like that, and you‘re always sprinting, you have to be able to sustain that. I thought he got tired in the second half, but that’s where he’s at and in the first half he was definitely a threat.”
Since joining the Hatters, Morris has completed a full 90 minutes on just one occasion, that coming in the Vertu Trophy contest with Swindon Town back in January. He got close at the One Call Stadium on Saturday, taken off in the closing stages for Richards, as he then had the opening hour in midweek, substituted for Richards once more to conserve his energy for Saturday’s home contest with Barnsley.
Wilshere revealed recently that the winger had been working in training to try and increase his ability to impact a game for longer periods, as on putting the hard yards in, Morris added: “That was a chat I had with the gaffer. He wanted me to be able to do that, be able to last longer in games, so I’ve done a bit and showed I can keep going. I do feel ready because I know at this stage of the season they are important games, so it’s all about staying ready as your chance can come and I just want to get the team the three points.”