Town boss insists long-serving Clark is getting 'better and better' for Luton

Luton chief Rob Edwards insists that long-serving midfielder Jordan Clark is getting ‘better and better’ for the Hatters this season.

The 31-year-old has been one of Town’s virtual ever-presents since the club were relegated back to the Championship following a year in the Premier League in which he made 23 top flight appearances, as after missing the opening night 4-1 loss to Burnley, has started every single second tier game since.

Clark’s clear significance to the side in Edwards’ eyes is also displayed by the fact that he has been taken off just three times in those dozen games, missing a mere 27 minutes of action, with last Friday night’s 1-1 draw against West Bromwich Albion, the former Accrington winger’s 150th appearance since moving to Bedfordshire in the summer of 2020. He has scored 14 goals during his stint too, none bigger than in the Championship play-off final at Wembley back in May 2023 as Luton eventually beat Coventry on penalties, Clark also netting in the shoot-out, to reach the Premier League.

Asked how big a player he is for the Hatters, Edwards said: "He’s really, really important and I think he’s shown a lot of growth, a really good understanding and a reliability as well. With us playing with two strikers and him more as a single deeper midfield player, there's some real trust in that position. But someone of his age and he’s a clever footballer as well, I think he's improving, I think he’s getting better and better, so I’m really pleased with how Clicker’s been performing.

"He’s running more than he ever has before, a higher intensity. I think the previous year has really made him better, more resilient and fitter dare I say it as well. So later in his career now, he’s showing signs of still improving and getting better and I love players that can play in a number of different positions as well. That's really important in this day and age, he gives us flexibility, I love him to bits Clicks.”

Edwards also praised Clark’s consistency in availability to ensure he has been able to feature so heavily for Luton this term, particularly with Town once more being hit by some chronic injury problems. He continued: “We’ve had a few missing and we might have been able to look after him here or there as he has felt bits, but he’s had to push through with us.

"Tom (Krauß) wasn’t fit when he first signed, Shandon’s (Baptiste) had a spell out, Walshy’s (Liam Walsh) suspension. There’s been times in the midfield areas where we’ve not had everyone fit and available so that's probably made him have to play a little bit more, but it's great that he's coped.”

With club captain Tom Lockyer absent as he continues to recover from his cardiac arrest and Carlton Morris missing the odd game as well this term, then Clark has been chosen to skipper the side at times, wearing the armband on three occasions. Discussing the added responsibility, Edwards added: “He’s been at the club for a long time, 150 games now, he’s produced big moments for us and for me since we’ve been here.

"It’s just his temperament. He’s got the respect of the dressing room and maybe with no Amari’i (Bell), or Carlton, or Locks or whoever, it’s a natural fit. I like to have a lot of leaders out on the pitch, Pelly’s (Mpanzu) another one. We’ve got a number of them who have worn the armband in my time here.”