UPDATED: Howells the exception as Still looks to stick with Reading squad

Hatters boss John Still has confirmed he will be picking from virtually the same squad that beat Reading in a development game on Monday when Town take on Cambridge United in the third round of the FA Trophy on Saturday, writes Mark Wood.
Reading Development v Luton Town Development. Photos by Liam Smith. wk 02.Reading Development v Luton Town Development. Photos by Liam Smith. wk 02.
Reading Development v Luton Town Development. Photos by Liam Smith. wk 02.

Former Welsh U21 international Jake Howells looks likely to be one exception and will likely captain a youthful Hatters team.

Still said: “I think what you saw at Reading is what we’ve got. Plus probably Jake Howells who has captained the team for the last two games, so I think that maybe we’ll go with that.

“He hasn’t had as many games as some of the others.

“Maybe not Matt Robinson, maybe not him, but by and large the group that played the last game will be the ones available.”

Still anticipates that returning Brentford defender Alfie Mawson will be replaced in the squad by a new loan signing to partner experienced defender Anthony Charles in the heart of the Hatters’ defence.

“I could have gone with Tinashe (Chabata) whose a youth who we like,” he said.

“But Anthony Charles has been out for a little while and I want to be fair to him, I need somebody there because he still needs a bit of help.

“So I felt I should bring someone in who can play in it, someone that we know and like and that will then give (Alex) Lacey and (Andy) Parry an extra month to get fit really if you like, because it’s important we don’t rush them back.”

Young midfielder Robinson is likely to among the majority of Town’s senior players who will be given until Monday to recuperate.

Experienced midfielders Luke Guttridge and Alex Lawless are both carrying knocks and Still glad he will have the opportunity to give them a rest.

He said: “Luke Guttridge came off (at Lincoln), but he’s OK, Alex Lawless was a bit tight in his hamstring, but he’s all right.

“That group have really just chilled a bit this week. They have trained, they came Monday and Tuesday, were off yesterday, trained today, and they’re now going to be off now till Monday.

“So they’ll have a good rest. The injured ones are the ones, like Luke Guttridge and Alex Lawless, need a little bit of treatment but I think they will both be back in training on Monday.”

Town’s development squad put in a hugely impressive performance at Championship Reading on Monday as they triumphed 4-1.

And Still is looking forward to seeing more from that same group of players.

He said: “I think for a few there, Anthony Charles, Solly (Solomon Taiwo), even Kane (Ferdinand), who’s just joined us to get him a bit more used to it, Mark Cullen, Alex Wall, Shaun Whalley, David Viana, Elliot Justham, all performed brilliantly.

“We went down there this week in monsoon conditions as well and put in a really, really good tempo performance, which is what we base our game on.

“It’s good to see everyone at the club playing with that tempo, so it was good that the make-up of that team for Saturday is that group.

“So it was good that they put in a good performance, not just for confidence but, as I always say, I wouldn’t pick a team that I thought couldn’t win.

“That doesn’t mean to say that it does win, but I’m confident in that team and the fact they played against a really strong Reading side and done well.

“It isn’t just about winning, I do have this winning mentality about the main teams, I think the winning mentality is a must.

“When you do win it’s great, but sometimes we’ve won and I’m not really over happy with how we’ve played, so if you can get the two together that’s utopia and, at the moment, we’re getting the two together with all of our teams.”

The front two of Cullen and Wall again looked particularly lively as Still lavished praise on the pairing.

He added: “I think I’ve said many times, whenever Mark Cullen plays in any team he’s outstanding.

“He hurt his foot earlier in the season and came out of the team and he’s found it hard to get back in.

“Someone said, ‘what’s he done wrong’, he’s done nothing wrong, he’s done everything right, but it’s circumstances really.

“Alex Wall now, he’s had lots of training, and every time he plays now you see him a little bit better, a little bit stronger.

“It was really interesting because talking to one of the guys at Reading that we know, said before the game their two centre-halves asked is Alex Wall playing today, and he went yeah he is playing for them, and they said we’re not looking forward to this because he bashes us all over the place.

“And that’s the effect that he has. He’s got this power, this strength and he’s been looking really good.

“He’s been scoring goals in development games, as is Mark Cullen, and it’s brilliant that when you’ve got an opportunity to make a change or the necessity to make a change that you know the people are in good form.”

Related topics: