Jones not looking too far ahead with Rams keeper

The 21-year-old was signed on loan until the end of the season from the Championship side, clearing the path for Luton number one Mark Tyler to move back to Peterborough.

Mitchell impressed in his Football League debut during the 1-0 win at Leyton Orient on Saturday, but on any plans beyond the end of his loan spell, Jones said: “We’ve always got an eye in terms of why we bring people in, we don’t really bring people in for short term fixes.

“The people we’ve brought in are people I know and believe in. Alan Sheehan’s done really well, Joe Pigott is someone I know, then Johnny has come in.

“It’s people that if we did move forward with those we’d be happy. We don’t bring people in for short term fixes and ones that we think maybe just have a little look at, because no, we’re trying to win football games.

“We’re trying to move forward and the people we bring in have to be able to fit into that.

“So everyone we bring in is a calculated one. He’s (Mitchell) one we knew of, one we believe can do well for us and we’re not so much looking, if he does well, we’ll get him next year, because a lot can happen.

“He could Derby’s number one next year, he could be Derby’s number two, he could be on their bench, anything can happen.

“So we’re not really looking at that, what we’re looking at for now is the players we bring in fit into our philosophy, players who are of the ilk that we require and everyone we have brought in so far has has been.”

Jones had made Mitchell his number one target after Tyler went public with his desire to return to Peterborough with a coaching role on the table, and believes they have done well to get the young stopper, who came through the ranks at Premier League club Newcastle United.

He added: “He’s a top young keeper, proactive, hungry, wants to learn, had a good pedigree at the club he’s been at, and the previous one before that.

“He’s been on our radar for a little while. I knew of him before I came to the club, it was an opportunity to bring one in, he was top of our list and we were fortunate enough to get him.

“He’s come from a good club and we have similar philosophies if you like in how we like to play. It’s not as if he’s come in and been asked to do things he’s not used to doing.

“We believe he’s a quick learner, believe he’s got a very good reputation, he’s very highly thought of at Derby.

“We believe it was a coup to get him as he’s an outstanding young player and that shows the regard how Luton’s held at the minute.

“We hope he’s a quick learner and hope he’s fantastic goalkeeper. We believe he is, now we just have to wait and see.”