Shea starts for the Hatters as Wilshere makes one change for Wembley

Luton’s loyal servant James Shea has been given his opportunity to play at Wembley for the first time in his career, as the experienced keeper is the one change made by manager Jack Wilshere for today’s Vertu Trophy final against Stockport County.

The 35-year-old had openly discussed his desire to make his maiden outing at the home of English football during the week, and was given the nod to replace Josh Keeley between the posts. Striker Nahki Wells has recovered from his groin injury to lead the line, as he had done at AFC Wimbledon, meaning Ali Al-Hamadi is on the bench, along with Devante Cole, wingback Cohen Bramall missing out.

Shea had played every single minute of the competition so far, including a 3-1 defeat at League Two side Cambridge United back in October, when he gave an incredibly honest interview about the state he felt Town were in, just prior to Wilshere being appointed. With the former Arsenal and England star starting to turn things around now, with Luton’s play-off hopes still not yet fully extinguished, the ex-Gunners youngster couldn’t believe just how much things have improved.

He said: “I thought we were in a bad place at that time, credit to the gaffer and his team to come in and turn things around. I know we’ve had a reprieve, but to be in the final and still be in with a chance of getting in the play-offs, if you’d have said that after the Cambridge game I’d have said not in a million years. So credit to everyone who has been able to turn things around in a positive way and hopefully we can go one more step in the competition and then use that in the league as well.”

Asked just how things have got better at the club, Shea continued: “I think it’s just a bit of hard work. It’s the easy thing to say, but the gaffer has come in and given us, I keep going back to his staff, his staff have been fantastic as well. They’ve given us their way of playing, the way they want us to play. He’s brought a few of his own players in as well, which gave us a lift and it’s like anything, you get a couple of results on the bounce, it just seems a little bit of a better place. To be able to turn it round from where it was is credit to the gaffer and his staff for doing it.”

Luton certainly gave a good showing on Easter Monday as they comprehensively defeated AFC Wimbledon 3-0, with Shea continuing: “We were brilliant on Monday, sitting there watching it, I thought we were fantastic. We knew going into the game that it was going to be a really tough game. I know Wimbledon have got a lot of injuries at the minute and they lost a few players during the game, but I thought 3-0, we could have been a few more.

"It was a game four or five months ago we may have drawn that. They may have got a set-piece and nicked one, but it showed how far we’ve come, we managed to get the second and pushed on to get the third. It’s a good place to be at the minute. We’ve got to keep it going, use the momentum. It’s massive in football, it works both ways. We’ve seen over the last couple of years, momentum in the wrong way go against us, so hopefully we’ve turned it around a little bit and we’ve got to keep it going.”

Playing Shea was a decision that a large number of Luton fans agreed with on X too, as @FanHubHatter wrote: “Shea. He's played the rest of the games, he doesn't get much game time now. He's more than capable and ultimately as much as I want to win it, it's not massively important if we win or not. It's not like it's a playoff final. @jhardyltfc: “Shea for sure - it’s the vertu cup. Not exactly season defining if we win or lose is it, plus he’s played every game in this cup to all of a sudden get dropped at Wembley? Think that would be poor man management if he was to be dropped.”

@gaz_fb: “Shea because he's played all the other trophy games. Would be harsh to leave him out. @DelBoy1976: “Shea as he's played his part us getting to Wembley with the help of the EFL also Keeley has a much bigger game to get ready for on Wednesday let's not chance any player getting injured in a tin pot cup final.”

@sharpeangle: “Sheasy helped get us there.... I'll be shocked and disappointed if he doesn't start - JK can have the role in the Play Off Final! @ltfc_xw10: “I think shea, he’s been a great servant for the club, he’s been apart of every game in the trophy. Would be good to award him with all him patience with a start at Wembley. Keeley can play in may.” @IanWLee23: “Shea, as he's played in all previous matches in this competition this season. Deserves to play at Wembley as he's been an excellent club man. Not much to choose between him and Keeley, I believe.”

@kevinrademeyer: “I think Shea needs reward for his loyalty, and his contract may state that he starts in the cup fixtures if fit. KEALY will be able to perform at Wembley in a few weeks time. @Lwfc11: “Shea has played all matches, be a bit cruel to drop him, luton through and through, he deserves this chance.” @GaryRotaryLift: “Stick with the players who got us there.”

Hatters: James Shea, Hakeem Odoffin, Mads Andersen, Kal Naismith (C), Izzy Jones, Liam Walsh, Kasey Palmer, Jordan Clark, Emilio Lawrence, Jake Richards, Nahki Wells. Subs: Josh Keeley, Ali Al-Hamadi, Shayden Morris, Nigel Lonwijk, Devante Cole, George Saville, Gideon Kodua.

County: Corey Addai, Joseph Olowu, Jack Diamond, Tayo Edun, Ethan Pye, Kyle Wootton, Ben Osborn, Oliver Norwood (C), Odin Bailey, Josh Stokes, Adama Sidibeh. Subs: Owen Dodgson, Ben Hinchliffe, Lewis Bate, Tanto Olaofe, Malik Mothersille, Louie Barry, Che Gardner. Referee: Martin Coy.