PREVIEW: Hatters ready to continue U’s domination

Town are unbeaten in their nine meetings between the sides, with the only defeats coming in the Football League Trophy in the 2002/03 season and the League Cup in the 1993/94 campaign.

United will fancy their chances of ending their long wait to taste victory though, as they come into the game on a seven game unbeaten run and have climbed to ninth place, just four points from top spot.

Manager Jez George has done a fine job since taking over on a permanent basis at the start of the season, after Cambridge finished a hugely disappointing 17th last year.

He has made sweeping changes to the squad too, with Newport County defender Ismail Yakubi the most recent arrival, joining on an emergency one month loan deal.

George has had to make some difficult decisions, releasing striker Daryl Clare, who scored just one goal for the club after joining for £10,000, while there is also interest in out of favour midfielder Conal Platt too.

The likes of Ashley Carew, Harrison Dunk, Rossi Jarvis, Ryan Charles were brought in during the summer, while Stevenage midfielder Peter Winn has signed on loan, while U’s also captured Michael Gash on a free transfer.

Team news: Alex Lawless misses out after breaking his hand in the dressing room at York on Saturday, while Dean Beckwith completes the last match of his suspension, but leading scorer Amari Morgan-Smith is available.

Curtis Osano is nearing a recall, but George Pilkington, Shane Blackett and Freddie Murray will all need some match practice before being ready for selection, while Dan Gleeson is a month away and Charlie Henry longer.

Cambridge captain Michael Wylde faces at least a fortnight out with a groin injury, while Rory McAuley required stitches to a head wound and Kevin Roberts took a knock to the ankle in Saturday’s 2-0 victory over Darlington.

Adam Miller is still on the long-term injured list, having been out for the last 13 months.

In charge: Jez George. Arrived at the Abbey Stadium in 2006 to head up the club’s academy, but when Martin Ling left the club in February 2011, he took temporary charge, before accepting the job on a full time basis this summer.

From the dug out: Jez George - “We know it’s an important night for our fans because of the former players and the fact that it’s probably as close as we get to a local derby in this league.

“But, for myself and the players, the game gives us no more points for winning than any other.

“We’ll do everything to make sure we do the best we can in the match. We’re going into it on the back of two good home wins.”

One to watch: Michael Gash - The 25-year-old is in his second spell with the club after moving to United from Cambridge City earlier in his career.

An impressive stay at Ebbsfleet saw York City pay £40,000 for his services, but he couldn’t rediscover his form and was loaned to Rushden last season, scoring six times.

Rejoined Cambridge at the start of the campaign and has netted twice so far.

Top scorers: Amari Morgan-Smith (7) – Ashley Carew, Michael Gash, Conal Platt, Tom Shaw (2).

Familiar faces: Where do you start?

Former Town midfielder Rossi Jarvis is now at Cambridge, with the 23-year-old playing over 50 times for Luton during two years at the club, while ex-Luton trainee Ryan Charles is also on the books at the Abbey.

For Luton, manager Gary Brabin used to be in charge of the U’s, while first team coach Paul Carden, was a player, assistant manager and caretaker manager.

Robbie Willmott, Danny Crow, Dan Gleeson and Freddie Murray have all played for the club too.

We’ve met before: Hatters enjoyed a 2-0 victory over Cambridge on September 11 last season, thanks to first half goals from Andy Drury and skipper George Pilkington.

Hatters: Mark Tyler, Dan Gleeson (Adam Newton 54), Freddie Murray, George Pilkington, Zdenek Kroca, Claude Gnakpa (Danny Crow 73), Andy Drury, Shane Blackett, Adam Murray, Matthew Barnes-Homer, Taiwo Atieno (Jake Howells 60).

Attendance: 6,691.

William Hill Odds: Luton win - 11/20. Draw - 11/4. Cambridge win - 9/2.