Centurion Pearson has been 'worth every penny' for Luton chief Jones

Hatters boss Nathan Jones believes centre half Matty Pearson has been ‘worth every penny’ of the transfer fee Town paid to Barnsley after completing his 100th game for the club on Saturday.

In the summer of 2018, Luton shelled out an undisclosed sum to the Tykes for the defender, who went on to be an ever-present as his new side won the League One title.

He carried on that consistency in the Championship last season and at one point had made 88 starts in a row, until the sequence was ended after lockdown when he was an unused substitute against the Tykes at Kenilworth Road.

Pearson has not missed a minute in the league so far this term, helping to keep a second clean sheet in the 2-0 win over Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday.

Paying tribute to the defender, Jones said: “He’s been wonderful, he really has been wonderful in everything we do.

“I singled him out (in the dressing room) because every time we played against Accrington he was a warrior and he was the one we were fearful of and we thought ‘we like him, we could do with a bit of him.’

“We had to wait a year and a half to get him, and we did and we paid a good bit of money for him, but he’s been worth every single penny.

“If you take it per game what we paid for him, right now, we’ve had a good deal.

“There’s a lot more to come from Matty Pearson, so I’m thoroughly delighted and he can get better.

“There’s a lot he can improve on, but 100 games, he’s been a warrior, kept clean sheets, scored goals, defends and the thing is with him, he’s not just like that in a game.

“He’s like playing pool, like that getting his food, everything about him, he’s a warrior and we like that.”

Pearson came close to a first goal of the season, and ninth for the club, with a downward header from Luke Berry's corner, which went wide of the post.

Jones continued: "I don’t think that bothers him, a clean sheet, getting his head on things, clearances, tackles and that’s Matty Pearson.

"He’s excellent and I’m very, very pleased, a good bit of business by us and the board, as to spend the amount of money we did on him at that time, not many can do that.”

Team-mate Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, who has made over 250 appearances himself for the club, added: "Matty gives you what he gives you, strong, heads the ball, a real defender.

"He’s worked extremely well on the ball as well, but this was a game that we needed to, if you’ve got to clear your lines, clear your lines.

"But he played well so got to give credit to him, happy 100th game to him."