Wilshere explains why he didn't offer ex-Arsenal team-mate a new deal

Luton manager Jack Wilshere admitted it wasn’t easy taking the decision not to offer wingback Cohen Bramall a new contract in the summer, ahead of a potential reunion when the Hatters head to MK Dons tomorrow.

The 30-year-old had been one of Town’s star performers at times in the previous campaign, as having joined in the summer under previous boss Matt Bloomfield, gave some excellent displays on the left flank. He was also a massive threat from set-pieces, netting three brilliant free kicks, including an absolute stunner against Port Vale that won the club’s goal of the season award.

However, having started 14 out of Wilshere’s first 18 league games in charge, once Bramall, who had been on the books at Arsenal at the same time as Town's manager, was injured against Blackpool on January 31, he didn’t start another game afterwards, falling so far down the pecking order that he was limited to a mere 40 minutes of third tier football, included in just three match-day squads.

It meant he was released along with Jacob Brown and Zack Nelson when the season was over, which although not a surprise when it was announced, would have been earlier in the campaign, such was the form Bramall had been showing. With Luton now coming up against him for the first time following his move to MK Dons, then discussing his decision, Wilshere said: “We had a lot of conversations, I had a lot of conversations with Cohen.

“He’s someone that I’ve got massive respect for and obviously had a relationship with before from his time at Arsenal, someone who I felt helped a lot last season, but maybe didn’t see contributing for the way we wanted to move forward. That wasn’t easy for Cohen as he had some really good games, and some really good moments last season that helped the team.

"He’s someone that I spoke to a lot, so that wasn’t easy. One of the messages to the players tomorrow is don’t give a free kick away in that area, as he is really dangerous from there. I’m happy that Cohen got another move, he’s obviously worked with (Paul) Warne before (at Rotherham United), and has a manager that trusts him there, so good luck to him, but just not tomorrow.”

Since joining the Dons, Bramall has started all eight matches in the league but is without a goal or even an assist, as his new are yet to record a victory in the league, drawing six and losing two, thrashed 5-1 on home soil by Reading last Saturday. One player who has been bang in form is Aaron Collins, the former Bristol Rovers and Bolton Wanderers forward with six goals from seven third tier outings, and nine for the campaign already, having scored a hat-trick in the 7-1 Jersey Mike's Trophy thrashing of Brentford U21s recently.

Wilshere continued: “He’s a good player, they have got good players all over the pitch, players that at some point I’m sure they were on our list to look at, so they have got quality all over the pitch and their manager will know this better than anyone because of his experience.

"Sometimes it’s like that where you go through periods where it doesn’t quite happen and then you need a game, or a moment in a game, or a result to go your way, then it can kickstart it. Our job tomorrow is to make sure we don’t give them the opportunity to do that by performing and doing a lot of things that we did well last week, but also improving at certain things.”

If Luton can produce a similar performance to the one that saw them romp to three points in their last league outing, thrashing Wycombe Wanderers 4-1 at Adams Park, there is every chance they can make it successive away-day triumphs. Wilshere knows that the essentials that saw them emerge such handsome victors should be in place once more, adding: “Of course the game throws up different problems and different things that we try and do, but there are a lot of things from that performance that are repeatable.

"Things like duels, running for your mate, things that require zero talent in a way. It’s a consequence of how you work and how you train that they’re in you. I’ve been there as a player, you wake up on Saturday and you’ve got a decision to make, am I going to help my mate? Am I going to run for him? Am I going to compete in duels?

"Sometimes you won’t be able to have a good game, everyone has a bad game, or find your rhythm, but you can be difficult to play against and win your duels. We certainly did that last week. I’m proud of the players for that performance and we want to repeat the good things from that.”