Wilshere confirms experienced Luton keeper will start against Cobblers

Luton boss Jack Wilshere has confirmed that experienced goalkeeper James Shea will keep his place between the posts for tomorrow’s Vertu Trophy semi-final clash against Northampton Town at Kenilworth Road.

The 34-year-old has played every single game in the competition so far, starting all three group stage matches and then picked up his first 90-minute clean sheet since May 2023, when the Hatters defeated Exeter City 4-0 in the last 32 during December last year. Shea also played in the 2-1 loss to Swindon Town, but with the Robins kicked out afterwards for fielding two ineligible players, stayed in goal as Town saw off fellow League One side Plymouth Argyle 2-1 in the quarter-final last month.

The ex-Arsenal youngster, who was team-mates with Wilshere when the Gunners won the FA Youth Cup in 2009, has had nine appearances in total this term, the most he has made since featuring 21 times in the 2021-22 campaign, featuring in the FA Cup and League Cup, also beginning the 1-0 third tier defeat at Exeter City on New Year’s Day.

With the competition heating up now, as Town are one game away from the final at Wembley, then despite Wilshere going with his strongest side in the previous round, he won’t take the option to recall number one Josh Keeley to take on the Cobblers, saying: “I’ve said this before, it might have been Doncaster where we didn’t actually play, but there was a question mark around Josh and I love Josh, Josh has been an excellent number one.

"But when you have a number two that supports him in that way, also has the quality, it makes that decision easier. I think James is so important to this club, important to me because he’s been through the journey with the club. He can give me a little bit more context on things and I trust him, so he’s going to play in goal.”

Having confirmed Shea will be in goal, there is a chance the three-time promotion winner might be behind a back-line containing Mads Andersen, as the Danish defender, and top scorer Gideon Kodua, were back at the Brache having missed Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Port Vale. Wilshere added: “Mads trained today, he hasn’t trained since he picked up a knock, it was only a knock on his foot, but it was quite a sore one, one we had to be a little bit careful with. So that’s a decision I have to make and Gids trained yesterday, so Gids is okay.”