Wilshere impressed by Bramall's hunger as Town winger is recalled against Lincoln
Summer signing returns to the left flank during 2-2 draw
Hatters boss Jack Wilshere felt winger Cohen Bramall showed the hunger and desire he was after following his recall to the starting XI for Luton’s 2-2 draw against Lincoln City on Saturday.
Having been on the bench for the new manager’s first game in charge, the 29-year-old had gone on to start 11 out of the Hatters’ next 12 League One matches, excelling in that time too, scoring two stunning free kicks against Stockport County and Port Vale, also adding an assist as well in the 3-0 win at Edgeley Park, playing in a far more attacking role than he had done during the early stages of his time at Kenilworth Road when joining on a free transfer in the summer.
Bramall was then surprisingly dropped to the bench when the Hatters went up against their opponents from Hertfordshire earlier this month, new signing Emilio Lawrence taking his place, the youngster having just signed from Manchester City a few days previously and handed an immediate senior debut for the club. The ex-Arsenal youngster also missed the 2-1 Vertu Trophy defeat to Swindon in midweek, which was less surprising, but was back in from the start against the Imps at the weekend as he resumed his position on the left of the Hatters’ front three.
Despite one moment in the first where he switched off defensively, leaving full back Joe Johnson with two men to mark at the far post, Freddie Draper getting clear to head home the opener, Bramall produced his usual high level of performance going forward, having a shot blocked and then seeing a magnificent rabona cross almost lead to a goal.
He carried on after the break too, with an inch-perfect delivery that an unmarked Nahki Wells headed over, also stepping up to see another set-piece deflected inches wide of the target. On his return to the side, Wilshere said: “I spoke last time after the Stevenage game and maybe I was a bit harsh leaving him out. He then didn’t play against Swindon as I’m always a little bit worried when you’re a player that fast, you try and protect them. I wanted him to be hungry today and I think he showed that. We challenged him to find a different way to beat his full back, maybe sometimes driving inside and I think he did that really well.”
With Bramall on the left, the Hatters boss opted to put Lawrence on the right this time, as the 20-year-old got the nod over Shayden Morris who completed his first 90 minutes in a Luton shirt during the week. After a tough start on his debut, the Scotland U21 international continued to grow in stature, one of Town’s main attacking outlets in the first half, eager to get on the ball and run at the visiting defence, slicing one efort wide and then putting another too close to keeper George Wickens.
He showed his skills with a clever feint to get past his man and then have his third crack that Wickens batted away, only for Gideon Kodua to volley the rebound over at full pelt, with his only lapse allowing Jack Moylan to cut back on to his right foot and cross for Draper’s opening goal. Lasting for an hour on this occasion, Lawrence was then replaced by Morris, but Wilshere felt it was yet another part of his learning curve at this level, adding: “I think in the first 10 minutes, I wouldn't say he struggled a bit, but I think he definitely understood what type of game it was going to be. It wasn't going to be a game where you can take a touch and wait for something to happen, but he adapted quickly and grew into it.
"He gives you something across the whole front line, maybe as a nine sometimes, let’s see, but I’ve spoken so many times about having variation in attack. I felt today was a game for Cohen to be on the left and give you that vertical down the line, which he did really well and Emilio to come off the line and try and link. I thought Nahki (Wells) was outstanding in helping with that as well. Defensively, we need to work with Emilio as there’s some things in this league that he would never have experienced in his life, so hopefully he’s learning and I’ve said it before, experiencing things will help him quicker.”