Settled Sluga tipped to show his best form for the Hatters

Luton boss Nathan Jones believes that Town will now start to see the very best of keeper Simon Sluga as he is fully settled into life at Kenilworth Road.

The 27-year-old joined in the summer from HNK Rijeka for a club record fee and was thrust straight into the trials of tribulations of the Championship just over two weeks later, despite having never played in Engliush football before.

Despite making some top-drawer saver, he also made a number of errors in that time, before losing his place under previous boss Graeme Jones following the 2-0 defeat at Derby County.

Sluga then regained his position at the turn of the year, keeping a first clean sheet before lockdown, following it up with two more.

The Croatian international has been one of Hatters' stars since the Champ resumed too, with a wonderful point blank stop in the 1-0 win at Swansea City last weekend and then a starring role as Luton drew 1-1 with Leeds United in midweek, including a terrific double save in the second half.

Jones, who is getting his first look at Sluga up close and personal since returning to take charge in May, said: “When he first came into the club, it takes time.

“I’ve been a foreigner, playing in a foreign country, and there are a lot of barriers.

“Language, the dressing room, the culture, everything is different, so sometimes it takes a bit of time.

“Big clubs have the luxury of when they buy foreign players of bringing them in, integrating them, they have player liaisons, interpreters and all those types of things, but we haven’t got that here.

"It was always going to be a transitional period for him, but, hopefully, he’s now settled and is very comfortable in the environment and his surroundings, and we’re going to see the best of him.”

Although Sluga was robbed of a fifth shut out in nine games at Elland Road, eventually beaten by Stuart Dallas' equaliser, Jones couldn’t deny it that the table-topping Whites were worthy of a point.

He continued: "Leeds deserved an equaliser. They were wonderful on the day, we defended magnificently and were tactically very astute.

"In the first half, I thought we were absolutely outstanding, to limit Leeds to pretty much one shot from distance, on target, shows a wonderful defensive display.

"To keep that for 90 minutes takes a lot, so you know you’ll have to rely on your keeper.

"When we did, he was very good, but let’s not forget he is a Croatian international.

"He’s the club record signing, so we know we’ve got a good keeper, if called upon, he was and we’re very, very grateful.

"That’s his job. When you say, a save out of nowhere, he is paid to do that. We paid a lot of money from him to do that.

"I’d have loved to keep a clean sheet and won the game, but that’s a positive point, make no doubt about it.”

Jones also felt that with six games now to go, there is little to prevent Marcelo Bielsa's side from going up this term.

He added: “I think the only thing that will stop Leeds going up are injuries.

"I don’t mean to be disrespectful as West Brom are a wonderful side, very structured, they’ve got good players, Brentford are superb and coming strong now in real form, so I think it's two from the three.

"But for me, there’s two sides that can really, really hurt you, really rip you apart and that’s Brentford and Leeds.

"West Brom are just a real good side, well organised, good manager, so it’s two from three.

"I’m not a betting man, but if I was I’d definitely put Leeds and one of the others.”