VIDEO: Luton likely to continue to look at trialists despite 2-0 Dunstable defeat

Luton look likely to give the trio of trialists on show at Creasey Park last night (Thursday) longer to impress according to first team coach Hakan Hayrettin.
Dunstable Town v Luton Town. Photos by Liam Smith. wk 30.Dunstable Town v Luton Town. Photos by Liam Smith. wk 30.
Dunstable Town v Luton Town. Photos by Liam Smith. wk 30.

The former Grays Athletic boss was in charge for the 2-0 friendly defeat to Dunstable Town as well-know striker Moses Ashikodi, midfielder Jake Hall and Spanish full-back Aitor Nunez (pictured) all featured alongside a mixture of fringe first-teamers and youth team players.

Haryrettin, who was in charge for the evening, said: “They all did their very best. I’ll tell the gaffer it’s maybe worth having another look at them and go from there, but sometimes you’re going to get these trailists and sometimes you’re going to get youngsters and sometimes you’re going to get squad players and you put them all into the mix and you’ve got to try and get what you can out of them.

“It was OK. Listen, they’re here for a purpose, they’re here to try and impress, I’ll go back and tell the gaffer what I think and we’ll go from there.

Dunstable Town v Luton Town. Photos by Liam Smith. wk 30.Dunstable Town v Luton Town. Photos by Liam Smith. wk 30.
Dunstable Town v Luton Town. Photos by Liam Smith. wk 30.

“We’ll have a tendency during the season, if we need to get one or two in, that the gaffer will always do this, but overall it was pleasing to see the youngsters, it was pleasing to see some of the squad players get minutes, which is important.

“Because it’s food and drink time now for them, they’re getting all their energy ready for the start of the season.

“Don’t forget Matty Robinson’s been ill and missed a bit, (Jim) Stevenson needs to get minutes in and I was happy for (Jake) Woolley, good movement by him.

“But like I said, two sloppy goals we gave away, one was a free header that came across our box but the result wasn’t the important thing, it was more progression for us as a club.

Spanish full-back Nunez, 25, who has played almost 100 times for the likes of Atlético Madrid B, Tenerife and Rayo B, showed some neat touches as he played 90 minutes at right-back.

Controversial striker Ashikodi, 26, has spent time at Millwall, West Ham United, Gillingham, Rangers, Watford, Bradford City, Swindon Town, Hereford United, Shrewsbury Town, Kettering Town, Ebbsfleet United and York City, scoring 33 goals in 136 appearances for those sides, but left Millwall at the start of his career in February 2004 when he allegedly pulled a knife on team-mate Mark McCammon in the players’ canteen.

He has also represented England at U19, U18 and U16 levels and has two caps for Antigua and Barbuda, and was withdrawn just after the hour for striker Alex Wall.

Hall, 22, meanwhile, is a combative midfielder, formerly of Dagenham & Redbridge, who trialled with Sheffield United and has also played for Hayrettin’s former club Grays Athletic and Conference South side Bromley.

On Nunez, Hayrettin said: “I don’t know where the gaffer got him from but the gaffer always pulls out players like that and he’s got good connections, so he’s one that we’ve got to look at and probably look at again. He’s been here about three sessions, so not long.”

And, although he knows Hall, Hayrettin revealed that he had actually been recommended to Still from elsewhere.

He said: “Well I know Jake obviously but he came through another source and the gaffer wanted to have a look at him so he’s in.

“Jake Hall was obviously recommended to the gaffer and he wants to take a look at him. He’s a tenacious lad and got a bit of bite and I’m sure he’ll have a look at him again.

“They’ve all got good attitudes, they’ve all got the right sort of mental preparation to make sure they come in and do well.

“It was good, but like I said to you, obviously the result wasn’t that important for me, what was important was the progression for the players getting minutes, especially Alex Wall coming through for half an hour which is a big plus for us so it was all good.”

The result may have been disappointing for the Hatters, but Hayrettin was pleased with the experience the youngsters had gained and the minutes the more senior players had got.

He continued: “It’s more for the development really, we had a lot of youngsters in there and a few people we’re looking at.

“The result’s disappointing maybe, but it was more for the development. I was pleased with some of the work that some people done, which was important to us.

“It’s another cog, we’re moving forward with our pre-season. People like Robinson, Stevenson, Alex Wall came through which was very, very encouraging for us.

“We had three kids in the back there that are 16, 17 and 18, it’s all a learning curve for these boys and they’re going to play these games more and more.

“Overall I was pleased, obviously not pleased with the result, but if you look at the state of play and how many chances we had compared to them it was encouraging.

“We need to now get organised and make sure that our pattern of play and our shape’s very good when we play games like this and it will come.

“I can’t take nothing away from the kids they tried their best.”

And with such a diverse squad Hayrettin was understandably not too concerned by the result itself as Dunstable strikers Matt Nolan and Lee Roache netted in each half.

He added: “When you throw it all into the mix together they’ve never played together before, it’s always going to be difficult.

“And the most encouraging thing for us was we saw the positives of what we needed to see, people got minutes which was very important, if they’re going to be involved in the first team squad.

“But the youngsters, the two boys at the back, Zak (Stephens) and Harry (Tamplin) came through very well, one’s 16 and one’s 17, fantastic.

“It was very, very encouraging because this is the future of Luton Town.

“The result for me wasn’t that important, but it was the workout that was and the way we went about our business and don’t forget we’ve got a new management team down here, that’s going to take a bit of time but it was all good in my opinion.”

For video highlights of the game please click the link.