Buckle hopes Rendell shakes off dead leg to face Braintree

That injury forced him off at half time during Saturday’s 2-1 win at Lincoln City and replacement Jon Shaw netted what turned out to be the winner with his first touch.

Buckle said: “They’re funny old things dead legs. They hurt and they stiffen up and they’re tough, it is a short amount of time, but if anyone can get him fit Simon (the physio) can.

“And I’m sure Scott will want to be fit now because we’re starting to get somewhere near the top of the league now, this is where we want to be.

“It gets exciting when it’s like that and if you are going to be up there you need to come to places like Lincoln and not only draw, you need to pick up three points and I felt that our ambition in the game really merited us picking up the points today.

“I’m very, very pleased for everyone, especially our fantastic supporters because that really did lift the players and drive the players on today, because that noise in that corner was real faithful fans.”

Shaw is ready to step into the breach if needed, but is hoping Rendell’s fit after playing an integral part in Luton’s recent good run of form.

He said: “Dependant on how Scott recovers over the weekend. I can’t really say I’m going to jump in and take Scott’s place, he’s been fantastic all season for us, but especially the last few weeks with goals he’s been vital.

“We hope he recovers and if he doesn’t and I take his spot I’ll be ready. If not and I’m back on the bench and that’s what the club needs, then that’s what the club needs.”

And striker Andre Gray believes the Hatters must maintain the momentum they’ve gained from three straight wins by winning their next two games ahead of their trip to title rivals Forest Green Rovers at the end of the month.

He said: “I think I just take every day as it comes. I try not to think too far ahead because anything can happen day by day. I will just go into training on Monday and go again and prepare for Tuesday.

“We’ve got a tough run after the next two games, so I think we need to get the maximum points out of them to keep our momentum going into these tough games because there’s a lot of away games after that so I think we do need that momentum to take into Forest Green away.”

Shaw concurred, adding: “You want to go on a run. The past has shown in this league the team that goes on a long run inevitably runs away with it because people get beat week in, week out by the people in and around them, by the bottom teams. If you can be that team that goes to places like Lincoln and come away with wins, goes to Tamworth and come from 1-0 down to win 2-1, and you go on five, 10 matches unbeaten we are going to be in a great position.

“In the changing room we know it’s there for us we just need to keep going.”