Woking chief insist Cards fans will 'enjoy watching' Luton forward after loan move
Gbode heads to Kingfield Stadium until the end of the season
Luton forward Joe Gbode has become the latest player to leave Kenilworth Road on loan having signed for National League outfit Woking until the end of the season.
The 20-year-old moved to the Hatters on the final day of the summer transfer window from League Two side Gillingham, having scored once in five appearances this term. Leaving Priestfield after four years with the Gills in which he was on target four times in 58 matches, Gbode featured in five League One games under former boss Matt Bloomfield, but since Jack Wilshere was appointed in October, hasn’t been involved in a single match-day squad for the third tier.
He did start against Brighton & Hove Albion U21s in the Vertu Trophy, also coming on in the 4-0 second round win over Exeter City too, while having another run-out for the U21s in their 5-1 Premier League Cup loss to West Bromwich Albion U21s. Having played for two EFL clubs this term, it meant Gbode couldn't go to another Football League side, which enabled Woking to pounce, as the Cards are 11th in the National League and host Yeovil Town on Saturday, before going to Walton & Hersham in the FA Trophy next weekend, a game that their new recruit can play in.
Director of football at the Kingfield Stadium, Jody Brown, told Woking’s official website: “A former colleague of mine, now at Luton mentioned Joe to me which encouraged us to look closer. He displayed many of the attributes we were profiling for, especially after the loss of Josh Kelly. The data measured him high in many areas at a level above the National League, so we’re confident in his readiness to impact games for us. I think had he not already featured for Gillingham and Luton Town this season, he’d stay in the EFL, but rules don’t allow it.
“Joe came to watch one of our recent home games with his family and feels enthusiastic about the opportunity to come and be part of our group for the 2nd half of this season, which is important. Powerful, direct, strong in one vs one situations and is versatile enough to play down the middle or wide in our favoured systems. I think he’s the kind of player our supporters will enjoy watching.”