Wilshere welcomes joint top scorer questioning his lack of minutes for Luton
Kodua has been on the bench in recent League One games
Luton chief Jack Wilshere is more than happy to see joint top scorer Gideon Kodua question just why hasn’t been in his starting XI for the past few games.
The 21-year-old had been enjoying a red-hot streak in front of goal over the Christmas and new year period, netting five times in four successive games, as he reached double figures for the club when scoring in the 2-2 draw against Lincoln City on January 17 to move clear in the leading marksman ranks, although that tally has since been equalled by midfielder Jordan Clark.
Playing in a central role appeared to be bringing the best out of the attacker, who was demonstrating a clear for eye for goal, unafraid to pull the trigger when the posts came into view, as he had also been making a name for himself as a pincher of last-gasp goals for the Hatters too, rescuing points against Leyton Orient and Bolton Wanderers, with a 90th minute winner in the FA Cup success over Forest Green Rovers as well.
However, Kodua, who had joined on a season-long loan from Premier League side West Ham United, then made that move into a permanent one on February 6, a few days after the transfer window closed, saw his position change to operating on one of the flanks, which allowed Jake Richards to move more central as Wilshere toyed with different formations and personnel, also playing as a wingback at times too.
With his goals drying up, now not scoring for the last 10 appearances, which has also coincided with a dip in form for the entire team, the former Hammer was taken off at half time against Cardiff during a 3-1 defeat last month, and has started three out of the last four League One games on the bench, restricted to just 19 minutes when introduced, and he didn't even come in during Tuesday night's 1-1 draw at Doncaster Rovers, despite the visitors absolutely desperate for a goal to try and prolong their increasingly unlikely hopes at making the play-offs.
Asked why he hadn’t been in the team as much recently, then discussing Kodua, who has featured 38 times for Luton this term, with 26 starts, far more than he has ever managed in his fledgling career to date, Wilshere said: “Gids has been in and out and I’m really conscious with Gids. He’s a young player who’s been really good for us and I’m really happy with him.
"The reason why we made him a permanent signing and that was something I really wanted to do, for two reasons, number one because he’s been really good for us, but number two, I know that sometimes that can play on a player’s mind, what’s going to happen next year? We wanted to give him that comfort that he is one of us and we see him as a long term player for us and we have to keep working with him.
"Why he’s been in and out, is a little bit of he’s struggled at times to find his rhythm. He is a player I think that needs to play a few games to really get up to speed and get his rhythm, but also he’s played over double his minutes he’s ever done before, so there is managing that side of it as well. But Gids is really, really in my plans and someone that I love working with. He’s a top kid, he wants to get better, he’s asking the questions like you are, why has he not been in the team and I like that about him. He’s someone that is a really big part of my plans.”
Kodua will now be hoping to break back into the side this afternoon when the Hatters go to a Wycombe Wanderers team that he enjoyed two loan spells with prior to joining Luton, signed by former Town chief Matt Bloomfield, making 35 appearances in total and scoring three goals. Having netted twice against his former team-mates in a 4-0 success for his new employers on Boxing Day, asked if his return will make the game mean that bit more, Wilshere added: “I think personally yes.
"Gids feels probably a little bit of something towards Wycombe, probably good things. I know he speaks very highly of his time there and he had a good time there and obviously did well. That was the reason why Blooms wanted to bring him here, so maybe it does, probably it does individually.”