Summer signing Lockyer has 'trained like an animal' to earn his place in Town's defence

Former Charlton defender back in the starting line-up for Norwich victory
Tom Lockyer in possession against Norwich on Wednesday nightTom Lockyer in possession against Norwich on Wednesday night
Tom Lockyer in possession against Norwich on Wednesday night

Luton defender Tom Lockyer has been training like an ‘animal’ in a bid to get a place in the Town back-line according to boss Nathan Jones.

The Welsh international joined on a free transfer from Charlton in the summer, but has been restricted to just six league appearances since arriving, four of them coming from the opening whistle.

He was in against Norwich City on Wednesday night though, playing the full 90 minutes alongside Matty Pearson, in what was a much-changed back four, with Martin Cranie starting at right back and then going off injured before the break, James Bree taking over.

Jones said: “Lockyer has trained like an animal and bided his time, Matty Pearson has played pretty much everywhere across the back four.

“We had to make one change early with Cranie, Bree’s not had much game time and been carrying a few things, so for him to come in and do really well and then (Rhys) Norrington-Davies was outstanding too.

"It's a real makeshift back four, but we showed that we were excellent.

“To a man we were superb, even the people we brought on had an impact, so I'm delighted.”

Lockyer was one of five changes on the night, with skipper Sonny Bradley, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Simon Sluga and Elliot Lee not making the squad, Ryan Tunnicliffe dropping to the bench, with Jones explaining: “Some were enforced with Simon, while Sonny Bradley has a personal, family issue.

“Pelly Ruddock picked up an injury, so did Elliot Lee, so we knew we had to use the squad.

“That’s not to say I wouldn’t have made changes anyway, but we’ve only had one day to work on that, but I thought they were excellent, I really, really did from start to finish.”

The new centre half partnership between Lockyer and Pearson kept Norwick quiet for long periods, as despite dominating possession, barring the penalty from Emiliano Buendia, the Canaries didn’t overly test the recalled James Shea.

On his new partnership with Lockyer, Pearson added: “When I go right back, we have Glen and Sonny at centre back, so it’s not cemented that those two players play that position.

“We’ve got enough bodies and enough talented lads that whoever plays is good enough to take the reins.

“It’s not ‘he plays here, he plays there,’ we’ve got plenty of bodies and a strong enough depth to switch anyone.”