McCourt ready for new lease of life under Jones

The supremely talented 32-year-old had been restricted to just seven league starts under previous manager John Still, despite Luton struggling for form in League Two this term.

After a run of three starts in September, where Town won all three matches, McCourt played in the 1-1 draw with Leyton Orient on October 20, before being restricted to a role on the bench.

However, he was back against Mansfield at the weekend, scoring his first Luton goal and setting up Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu for the second too.

On his return to the side, McCourt: “It was great, all players want to play from the start and it’s been disappointing to sit on the sidelines.

“It was very frustrating because we’d just won three or four games in a row, then I came back from an international double header, was on the bench, played in the draw against Leyton Orient and that was it, I didn’t play again.

“I don’t know why, I didn’t ask the manager and he ended up getting the sack, but it was very disappointing as I felt that although I wasn’t where I wanted to be in terms of performance, I was playing, we were winning games.”

Still left the club before Christmas, with Nathan Jones appointed earlier this month, with the new boss charged with bringing more entertainment to Luton’s fans by chief executive Gary Sweet.

Although he knows it will take time, McCourt is hoping to play his part in what could be an exciting future.

He said: “I think that was the remit he was given when he got the job, but I keep going back to it’s going to take time, as it is.

“You don’t become a Swansea, a Brighton a Bournemouth in just in a couple weeks, they work hard at what they do every single day.

“Everyone on the pitch knows their job, knows where to be in a certain position and hopefully we can get there as well.

“I don’t think he’s trying to change everything at once, he’s not stupid, he knows it’s going to take time.

“But you can see the centre halves splitting to get it off the keeper, so he’s trying maybe at the minute to slowly implement his things.

“He’s a coach who wants to play football, ball from the back, get between the lines, bring a wee bit of flair and creativity back to Luton, so hopefully I can play a big part in that.”