Walsh feels at home with Luton after extending his Hatters stint
Midfielder agrees new Town deal
Luton midfielder Liam Walsh insists he feels fully at home now with the Hatters after agreeing a new contract to stay at Kenilworth Road.
The 28-year-old was one of the main players once boss Jack Wilshere was appointed last term, starting 30 out of his 43 matches in charge, having missed the first few fixtures due to injury, as he finished the campaign with two goals and eight assists from 40 outings in total. With Walsh out of contract at Luton, then supporters were hoping the former England youth international would put pen to paper on a new deal, and that happened last Friday afternoon, as he followed Jordan Clark in committing his future to the club.
On the back of a campaign in which he played his most games in his professional career, bettering the 34 he managed when on loan at Coventry City in the 2019-20 campaign, then on staying put, Walsh told the club’s official website, he said: “I think I've got my set-up here now. It goes back to the physios as well, they know the load that I need, and the game time that I need as well. I think our style of play that we've got as well suits me more than anything. It’s not just playing a long ball and sprinting up and down the pitch, it's my style of play, it suits me well and I've got a really good base here.”
Having a determination to extend his stint with the Hatters was something that was always on the mind of Walsh as he gave his all to try and make sure there was a contract on offer, as he continued: “Coming towards the end of the season we all knew what we wanted which was get in the play-off positions, but I was just taking it game by game and just enjoying my football again.
"There’s nothing worse for a player than just constantly moving about every few years, so this is one that I really wanted to get done. I had it on my mind all through the season, so that's why I was trying 110 percent every game and doing as much as I can to perform for the club and try to earn myself a new deal, and I’m in a good position at the minute.”
It was quite apparent the feeling with his manager Wilshere was mutual as well, as discussing working with the ex-Everton youngster and the rest of his squad next season and hopefully beyond, the boss said: “We love him. Not just me, all the coaches, and it’s so important. That’s what we are trying to create here. I always say to the coaches, ‘Love the players’.
"Yes, hold them accountable and we have high standards and we demand a lot from them, but in today’s world where it’s easy for them to get hammered on social media, by press and by media, they are so open to everything and the last thing they need is a coaching staff that will question their character. It’s about giving them respect. A platform, high standards, but making them feel supported.”
One of Walsh’s big moments came when he finally realised his dream of playing at Wembley, helping Luton lift the Vertu Trophy with a 3-1 victory over Stockport County. It’s something he clearly wants to repeat next season as well, adding: “It's something that everyone wants to go, you want to go to Wembley and coming away from there with a win is a bonus. We’ve got another crack at it again this season and it's something we want to do again and it’s something that I remember in my career, winning a game at Wembley with Luton.”