Wilshere still unsure just how long Ipswich loanee will be out for Luton

Luton boss Jack Wilshere is still unsure just how long striker Ali Al-Hamadi is going to be out for, although admitted it could well be at least a month before the forward is fit again after picking up a quad injury on international duty last week.

The 23-year-old, who had just got back to full fitness following a calf problem that hindered the opening few months of his loan move to Kenilworth Road from Championship club Ipswich Town, made two substitute appearances for the Hatters recently before heading away with Iraq in a bid to get some much-needed match practice. He won his 16th cap and scored his fourth goal for Iraq during the first leg of a 1-1 World Cup qualifier against UAE, but was then replaced at half time in the match held in Abu Dhabi.

Al-Hamadi was then replaced in the squad for the second leg that his country won 2-1 to reach the play-off stage of the tournament, as after not being too sure of the length of his absence on Saturday, then speaking to the press this afternoon, that was still the case for Wilshere, who said: “Ali picked up an injury which is first of all disappointing for him as I know he’s been through a lot and disappointing for us as he can help us.

"But we’ll help him, we’ll support him and wait for him to come back. We’re still waiting to find out how long he’s going to be. It’s his quad, that was reported before, so we’re waiting to see the extent of it, but it’s not ideal for him. Honestly, we don’t know (how long he’ll be out). Simon’s (Parsell, head of medical) gone with him today for a meeting with someone, which we’ll get some information about after. It’s definitely not a couple of weeks, it will be a bit longer than that I think.”

Town also had midfielder George Saville away on international duty with Northern Ireland, as he gained a 63rd cap whem helping his country reach the World Cup play-offs where they will visit Italy in March. He had been suspended for the goalless draw against Rotherham having picked up five bookings, but will be available to run out at Barnsley tomorrow, as Wilshere continued: “He’s a player who’s played at a higher level. He understands the game really well, his experience, his know-how on the pitch, also his technical ability, he helps us especially when we’re in low build up. He understands his position, he can receive the ball under pressure which helps us so we’re happy to have him back.”

Meanwhile fellow midfielder Marvelous Nakamba, who captained Zimbabwe to a first win in over a year when triumphing 2-1 in their friendly against Qatar could come into the manager’s thinking, despite only playing once since he took over, that the Vertu Trophy 3-1 group stage win over Brighton & Hove Albion U21s. Wilshere added: “There’s always a chance. I had to understand the situation when I came in as I saw his name in the squad and saw he didn’t play that much. He missed a bit of pre-season, he was playing a little bit of catch up, but he’s in and around it. He’s training so there’s always an opportunity.”