Town boss will give returning Luton forward Al-Hamadi time to get back to his best
Striker got his long-awaited debut in FA Cup tie
Luton chief Jack Wilshere wants his players returning from injury such as Ali Al-Hamadi are given time to get back to their best after the striker finally made his debut in the closing stages of the FA Cup first round win over Forest Green Rovers last week.
The 23-year-old moved to Kenilworth Road on deadline day, penning a season-long loan deal from Championship side Ipswich Town that contains an obligation for the Hatters to purchase him if certain criteria are met, joining after a term in which he played 31 times for his parent club, along with Stoke City and Iraq. He then endured a tough start to the current campaign, featuring for just 11 minutes of the Tractor Boys’ 1-1 draw with Birmingham City in the league, although did get the full 90 on August 12 as Ipswich went out of the Carabao Cup 5-4 on penalties to League Two Bromley, after a 1-1 draw in normal time.
However, the forward then picked up a calf injury which saw Luton able to entice him to Bedfordshire, but not play him, as after eight weeks in his new surroundings, he was eventually named in a match-day squad last Friday night, coming on just after the hour mark, heading out to the left hand side of Town’s attack, with Nahki Wells operating through the middle.
He didn’t see too much of the ball during his half an hour or so on the pitch, Robbie Savage’s visitors going on to dominate proceedings, hitting back from 3-0 down to draw level at 3-3, although the substitute did play his part in the winning goal, making a nuisance of himself when a pass was played up to him, then clipping a volley to George Saville which saw Jerry Yates slide in Gideon Kodua to win the tie 4-3 in stoppage time.
With Al-Hamadi now looking to get his first taste of league action for the Hatters at leaders Stockport County tomorrow, Wilshere has called on an element of patience regarding the expectations surrounding the striker, and others like Jacob Brown, who are on their way back, saying: “I think it’s important that we give them that time and they know that. Of course they'll feel pressure as they’re top professionals and top players who want to come back and help the team, but it’s really good to have Ali back.
"We probably played him a little bit out of position, I see him more as a nine, I know he can play off the left and something he will probably have to do during the season, so absolutely no concerns with Ali. It was good to get him back on the pitch, he was probably frustrated with certain things that happened, but the main thing was he was back on the pitch and he keeps building his fitness.”
With Al-Hamadi having returned and Town adopting a system that has one main striker with two wide players either side of him, then with Wells and Yates both scoring recently, while Brown is almost available too, with Lasse Nordas and Joe Gbode options as well, the boss knows there is plenty of competition for that number nine role.
He continued: “That’s probably why I said Ali and Browny and some others forwards will have to play off the sides at times. They'll get their chance as a nine as well of course, but the way we play, sometimes it could suit a nine to play off the wing a little bit and gives us that threat in behind which at times we've been missing. They’re good problems to have and also what I like about that situation is they're all top, top guys, top pros, top professionals. Yes they want to play, but they also understand that Nahki at the moment is doing really well.”
Wilshere did accept that now there are plenty of options for him to go with, not just upfront as well, then those not included will need to bide their time patiently in the knowledge that their opportunities will come over the course of the campaign, adding: “We’ve got a big squad and players are coming back now which gives me a few problems when I’m picking a squad, good problems to have.
"I think the most important thing is that players understand, we might not be in the squad this week, but knowing this league, knowing this division, knowing England and the way it is, that there’s still an important part to play. We have to make that message clear, at times it can feel tough for players, but I think they deserve to play first of all.”