Top spot the target for Hatters chief ahead of Hyde clash

Although clash is just Luton’s third game of the season, victory would see them lead the pack for 24 hours at least, and it’s exactly the position that Buckle wants to be in.

He said: It would be nice for us. We want to get to the top of the league, that’s the benchmark, that’s where we want to be.

“It all comes from what we do on the training field and the ethos we’re creating at Luton now where it’s high standards all around the place.

“If you’ve got high standards and you put yourself on the line to be tested you can achieve.

“If we got about our business right which we will then we could find ourselves up there, but it’s all ifs and we’ll find out more after the game.”

The clash is Luton’s first taste of live TV this season, with Premier Sports airing the match. Hosts Hyde will no doubt be desperate to cause a shock in their role as underdogs, but for Buckle, it is all about how his players perform.

He said: “There are no easy games for Luton, there never will be. It’s a big game, we know where we are, we’re in the Conference and we’ve got to start big, we know that for sure and if we do what we did against Kidderminster we’ll do well.

“We’ll be taking the game to them and trying to win the game. It’s about us, they’ll have their game plan and things they think they can hurt us on but ultimately I’ll have my eyes on what we can do.

“I expect them (Hyde) to be well up for the game, but we will too. I would rather concentrate on Luton, concentrate on my team as I think if we do that, focus on our own game and what we do, it gives us a great chance.

“I certainly don’t underestimate anyone. Hyde come into that bracket. I want to continue where we left off, to get passing the balls, to get goals and all those nice things, let’s work really hard for each other and be hard to beat.

“We got the ball rolling at quarter to four (on Saturday) when we walked in at 2-0 down. We showed great character, so lets be nasty and aggressive because we know that our good play will come through in the end.”

Town welcome back Jake Howells to the squad after he played in Wales’ 1-0 defeat to Armenia in in their European U21 Championship qualifier, but whether or not they bring him straight back into the side is up for debate after an excellent performance 2-0 win at Kidderminster in his absence.

Buckle said: “Jake is all right. I text him before the game, Paul Carden went to watch the game, he came through that which is good.

“He didn’t train with us as we let him recover and he’ll join us up at the hotel. We’ll make the decision whether we put him, as with (JJ) O’Donnell playing the left side it’s so encouraging.

“With the young ones, sometimes you’re putting them in and thinking can you do it? But all the games he’s been exceptional.”

Adam Watkins could also return to the squad after he missed the midweek win with an ankle injury as Buckle continued: “I’m hopeful to have Watkins back involved, although at same time it’s giving him a bit of breathing shape because sometimes if things don’t go well you are rushed into bringing someone back.

“But it went very well and the players have earned the right to keep the shirt, so maybe I’ll be a bit reluctant to bring him back too early, but bring him back nice and fresh instead.”

With both Howells and Watkins unavailable at Harriers, Alex Lawless did his chances of a start tonight no harm at all with a busy performance in midfield, impressing his manager greatly in the process.

Buckle said: “He was fantastic Lawless, him and O’Donnell covered so much ground with so much selfless running.

“The shape we play lends itself to having two who can get about when maybe Yas (Kasim) sits a little more.

“I’m sure everyone who watched the game will see the selfless running that Lawless does for the team and I’ve asked Alex to start expressing himself as I don’t really feel that in the short spell I’ve been here that the Luton people have seen the best of Alex.

“He’s a really good pro, he was desperate to stay in the summer when he could have moved on and I’m glad the other night he started to show what he’s all about.”

The game comes too soon for defender Garry Richards though, with still no end in sight for the former Gillinham centre-half after his ankle injury.

Buckle added: “I think Garry is going to be a little while. He turned the ankle in Portugal and that that did him no favours coming back from an injury.

“He’s been very unlucky, but (Lathaniel) Rowe-Turner has been a big plus. One door closes and another one opens which gets used a lot and is very true in our sport.

“He’s not massive Rowe-Turner but he’s very aggressive, his heart is in the right place and he’s got a good left foot.

“He fitted in nicely alongside Janos, gave us good balance, and at the moment he’s got the shirt and has got to keep it.”

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