Wilshere explains why he allowed Luton trio to go out on loan

Luton boss Jack Wilshere has explained that he wanted to prioritise the development of three of the younger members of his squad after agreeing to let them move out on loan during the January transfer window.

Academy graduate Zack Nelson was the highest profile of the trio to leave this week, as the 20-year-old midfielder, who has made 51 appearances since his debut in the Premier League at Crystal Palace, scoring three goals, headed to another League One side in AFC Wimbledon.

With the Dons sitting 17th in the table, there is every chance that the former England U20 international will get a run of games at the Cherry Red Records Stadium, which is something that the Town manager is clearly after, as speaking this afternoon, Wilshere said: “I don't know what happened before I was here with Zack, but my intention when I came in was to look at him, to see him.

"I really like Zack, I really think he’s someone who can be a big player for the club in the future and we wanted to prioritise his development and getting him the minutes that he needs to develop now. Of course it could have been an easy one for us to keep him around training as he is a good player and he helps training. He keeps the quality high, but he needs to go out, he needs to play, he needs to experience that week in week out, like any young player relly.”

It was the same for Ethon Archer as well, the winger having joined from Cheltenham Town in the summer only to then stay with the Robins for the first half of the campaign, scoring three goals and creating three in his 28 outings. Back at Luton, the 23-year-old came off the bench with an eye-catching campaign in the Vertu Trophy defeat to Swindon Town last week, but despite that, Wilshere still wanted him to head out, and while playing in that competition didn’t stop him joining another EFL club, opted to head to a Port Vale side sitting bottom of the table and 11 points from safety.

The Town chief continued: “It’s the same with Ethon as well really, I haven’t seen Ethon for as long as I’ve seen Zack, but we made a decision as coaches that again we’re going to prioritise his development. He’s someone who could have helped us maybe 10, 15 minutes off the bench, and then worked his way into the team, but he needs to go out.

"He needs to play game after game and I like his decision. I know he had a few options but I like his decision to go to a club that is at the bottom of the league. I think that teaches you some things that he probably wouldn’t have experienced in his career yet and will help him going forward into the future.”

Finally, striker Joe Gbode, who was a summer addition for Gillingham has also moved out, heading to National League side Woking, as he couldn’t join another EFL club having already played for his former side and the Hatters, with five sub outings in the league since his arrival from the Priestfield Stadium.

Although his first match for the Cards has already been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, Wilshere is hoping he gets plenty of first team football, adding: “With Joe, he’s obviously played for two teams this year already so there was only one place he could go unless he goes abroad. The level he’s gone to, hopefully he gets some minutes as a nine and he can really learn what it takes to be a number nine and experiences that. Experiences getting kicked, experiences playing against aggressive centre backs and gets the minutes as we wanted to prioritise his development as well.”