Driver confident Luton is the right place to be

Teenagers Charlie Smith and Colby McAdams were in the squad for Saturday’s FA Trophy tie with Swindon Supermarine, with McAdams making his first team debut late on.

JJ O’Donnell came off the bench too, with goalkeeper Lewis Kidd among the substitutes and Driver said: “We do get a big group of first teamers within our group sometimes, your Shane Blackett’s, Adam’s (Watkins), Jamie Hand’s in games as well.

“The likes of Adam are really approachable too, they’re not big time.

“They speak to you and the first thing he and the Danny Crow’s ask is how did you get on on Saturday?

“Mark Tyler will know how you’ve got on, so there’s an interest from the first team and it’s great that the manager, (Alan) Neilson and Paul Carden come to games like the Youth Cup.

“Gary Sweet was there too, so they know they’re not just playing a game, someone’s watching a game who can take their future beyond where I can take it.

“They get their chance to get involved and the fact they can see the difference in tempo, in concentration, in application you need in a first team game.

“So whenever they’re slouching a little bit, you can remind them of that and there’s definite situations you can refer them too as well.”

Having the likes of Keith Keane, Adam Watkins and Jake Howells, who have all come through the ranks at Kenilworth Road too can only act as a spur for the youngsters, according to Driver.

He continued: “Adam, Jake, Ed (Asafu-Adjaye), Keith, there are plenty of role models in there for them to see.

“All of us older ones can sit there and rattle out our history, but there’s no substitute for saying, ‘ok, that person.’

“A person that they know, this is what happened to him, so they can see what you’re saying.”

Although the U18s suffered a disappointing FA Youth Cup exit earlier in the season, Driver believes there is plenty of talent at the club.

He said: “We’ve got a 14-year-old goalkeeper (Tyler Redding), who can come and play in an U18 game and Charlie Smith who can get a hat-trick at U16 level.

“There are a few that have got a very, very good chance because this is as good a youth side or better youth side that I’ve seen in the last few years.”

Hatters have seen two players earn themselves big money moves in the last year with Cauley Woodrow joining Premier League Fulham and Michael Cain signing for Leicester City.

Driver continued: “I think you’ll find that these players are going to have a decent chance as clubs aren’t going to pay those levels of money if the players haven’t got half a chance.

“I’d like to think if it doesn’t work out, they would come back, so the worst thing happens is we get the player back and keep the money!”

Although Driver would never stand in the way of a player moving to a higher level at an early age, he does feel that staying with a club like Luton can be more beneficial to a players’ development.

He said: “My personal view coming from a background from the last five years working with youngsters at Conference level is they’re better being with us.

“The sooner they get exposed to first team football the better it is for them and their development.

“They’re more likely to be spotted by someone higher up by playing in the first team. In the last three or four years I was involved with Rushden, the ones who moved were the ones who got involved with the first team.

“Two or three good games and everyone’s looking at them.

“Players have got a better chance of playing in Luton’s first team then they have a Championship first team as they might have to wait until they’re 20-21 for that.

“You’ll see boys like, Jake Howells and Adam Watkins have an even more limited chance, so I’m going to bang the drum that you’re better off being at a well-run Conference set up if you’re looking to develop.”

The next line of Town youngsters is looking good too as Driver added: “Arel Amu is a great example.

“We did some physical testing in the whole country including all the acadamies and Arel was in the top four per cent. Ian Rees and Josh Terry have all now played men’s football at the age of 15. It brings you on. Boys who are good at academy football aren’t always the best when it comes to a 6ft 5ins monster behind them.

“Some rise to the challenge, some don’t.”

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