Teenage midfielder eager to show Luton U18s lead coach his versatility

Luton U18s midfielder Jerome Passley-James is happy to showcase his versatility for the Hatters once more if the opportunity arises this season.

The teenager has played the majority of his time with Town’s academy in the centre of the pitch, but due to an injury to a trialist right back last term, found himself pushed into a more defensive role in the reshuffle. It was a role that the player, who moved to Kenilworth Road as an U15 and made 44 appearances last season, scoring four times and setting up another three, is eager to have more exposure in, telling the club’s official website: “It was an exciting chance to play right back.

"When the gaffer asked me to play there and do the job for the team, it gave me the opportunity to show something a bit different. I was smiling and telling him (Joe Deeney) that I’m ready to step in and help play my part in that match. That game gave me a chance to show a more defensive side to my game. I play mainly in the centre of midfield, but this was my opportunity to work on my shape, my defensive responsibilities of keeping the line and putting challenges in. I do think if I work on that position a bit more it could be a real asset to my game.”

Passley-James has now returned to the Brache to begin preparations for the upcoming campaign, one that he wants to see end with Luton having their hands on some silverware, something that frustratingly eluded the U18s last season, losing two cup finals. In order to do that, he knows the work must be put in now, adding: “I feel like last season was a really hard graft, we were a mostly young group throughout the season, so that provides a different kind of challenge which we adapted to eventually.

“Some matches were a bit tricky for us, but we performed well overall and just couldn’t quite get over the line in the PDL competitions. The last second corner hurt us in the 17s against Stockport, but I still feel we did well to reach a semi-final and two other finals, we just need to go one better this time out."

“It’s great to be back. I feel as though training is really difficult whenever you have to deal with something new, it hasn’t really been this hot before for us in pre-season, so it has been a bit tougher than usual. The boys pushed each other through it, and even though the weather is hot, the sun being right on top of us, we still managed to work hard and get through our fitness drills.”