Wilshere believes in-form Luton striker fully deserves his recent goal streak

Luton chief Jack Wilshere believes experienced striker Nahki Wells is fully deserving of his impressive streak in front of goal after scoring three times in his last four outings for the Hatters.

The 35-year-old had struggled badly after arriving on a free transfer in the summer, only netting four times in his first 28 outings, which included a brace against non-league Forest Green Rovers in the FA Cup, also missing two penalties, eventually losing his place in the side when Town hosted his former side Bradford City

Recalled for the 1-1 draw with Burton Albion last month, the Bermuda international scored the Hatters’ opener, going on to net against both Port Vale and then in the Vertu Trophy semi-final win over Northampton Town in midweek. Disappointed with his own personal tally and performances, Wells admitted he had sought out first team coach David Bridges to try and work out just why he was finding it so hard to replicate the kind of instinct in the box that saw him score over 175 senior goals in his career, which has now led to his recent improvements on the pitch.

On hearing that, Wilshere said: “That’s the environment we’re trying to create, a development environment. Whenever I think about a game, it’s how we’re going to win the game and this is an industry you have to win games in, which we always try and do, but I also believe the best way of doing that is by developing the players and making them better, making them understand more, sitting down with them and going through things.

"I believe that’s how you get there, and we’ll always go through that process with all the players. Whether you’re 35, whether you’re 18, I feel like you can still develop, still improve and probably sometimes even more the older you are as you’ve got all the experience, all the knowledge, but if we can add one or two things to try and help them then brilliant. The main thing is the players believe in it as if you don't want to get better, you won’t get better.

“Nahki’s a really good example of that and a really good example for the young players as well, because it hasn’t always gone his way this season. He’s had to deal with a lot of adversity, and the way he’s come through it and how he’s come through it is by working, working on the training pitch and trying to improve himself there, but also in the gym to stay available.

"Nahki deserves it as well because he’s a real leader for us. It hasn’t always gone his way, but he’s a player that I really like and a player I’ve spoken about a lot, how much more he brings to the team in getting the team up the pitch and linking play up, but I also know as a number nine that his job is to score goals, I know he was feeling that as well, so I’m happy for him.”

Having blasted into the bottom corner from 25 yards against Lincoln City recently, Wells then went clean through when Burton were in town late last month and, whereas in the past he has failed to find the net, spurning opportunities against both Barnsley and Plymouth, made no mistake on this occasion with a clinical finish. He then bagged from a couple of yards out against both Port Vale and Northampton, the kind of strikes that have been his meat and drink since making his professional debut in January 2011.

Wilshere felt that his last two efforts demonstrate just how the team have improved, plus Wells now finding himself in the right areas to make the most of his predatory instincts, continuing: “Nahki’s done that all his career, but sometimes, and that’s why when I talk about how the team’s evolved, at times Nahki was dropping deep to help the team and link play, which we needed at the time.

"As the team’s evolved and we’ve become better in those moments, now we can put more players on the last line, be slightly more aggressive with how we attack and it suits Nahki. Sometimes it’s just reminding him and showing him some of the goals he scored before, showing the moments when he wasn’t quite in the right position, but he has to be open to that and definitely is. The things we’re doing now which we weren’t doing when I first came in, suits him more as a number nine role for Nahki. His job is still tough and trying to find a goal is the hardest thing in football, but he’s doing it and that builds confidence for him.”

With Wells himself admitting that watching back the clips reminded him to take a more selfish and single-minded attitude in front of goal, then Wilshere added: “I love him as a nine and I’ve loved him since I’ve been here, but I also know how nines think and how they want to score goals. That builds confidence for them and if you can get on that run when you’re scoring, you’re in the right positions, you’re getting chances, which he probably always was getting the chances, but now he’s executing them. He’s important for me, to us, the team, to everyone, we need to make sure we can keep him fit.”