'Dream day' for Townsend as he helps Luton earn a point on his long-awaited Premier League return

Town winger Andros Townsend admitted it was a ‘dream day’ to finally get back out on a Premier League pitch once more and play his part in the Hatters rescuing a point during a 2-2 draw at Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

The 32-year-old had gone 587 days since taking the field in a top flight encounter, last doing so when coming on as a late substitute for Everton in their 1-0 win over Newcastle on March 17, 2022.

A serious cruciate ligament injury during the Toffees’ FA Cup defeat to his former side Crystal Palace meant the ex-England international was sidelined for a year, leading to his eventual exit from Goodison Park in the summer.

Struggling to find new employers in England, or anywhere for that matter, and seeing a move to fellow new boys Burnley fall through, Townsend was starting to believe his desire to play in the top tier of English football was coming to an end, until the Hatters made their move and he was back in a match-day squad at the weekend.

After making Premier League appearance number 265 when coming on for the final 18 minutes at the City Ground, he said: “It’s good to get back out there and help the team to an important point so it was a dream day, a day I’ve dreamt about for a very long time.

“Its been a tough summer, a summer when so many things have been going through my mind.

"Thinking initially I was back in the Premier League, then getting turned down at the last minute and then going all across Europe, all across the world, searching for that opportunity, not getting that opportunity.

"Coming back to England and thinking my career was over, doing media work, and then a week ago I was working for Sky, watching Nottingham Forest against Palace and then a week later I’m playing against Nottingham Forest, so it’s been a whirlwind of emotions.”

Townsend had come on as part of a triple substitution with his former England team-mate Ross Barkley, plus striker Elijah Adebayo.

Although Reds striker Chris Wood instantly made it 2-0 to the hosts, Townsend played a part in Luton giving themselves hope, his free kick not dealt with by the home defence and Chiedozie Ogbene volleying a first Premier League goal of his career.

Adebayo then made amends for his miss against Spurs before the international break with a terrific equaliser in stoppage time, collecting Tom Lockyer’s lofted ball into the box and prodding past Matt Turner.

Wood almost won it moments later, his strike ruled out for offside, but Townsend had always retained hope a comeback was on the cards, continuing: “When you come on and you concede again you think ‘what have I done?’

"But this club they don’t get to the Premier League without having resilience and a never say die attitude.

"Eli in the last game missed a good opportunity.

"He’s been down on himself for the last couple of weeks, he steps up and gets a point for us, so this club is all about resilience and we showed that.

“Even at 2-0 you believe, you have that hope.

"But when you do get that first goal and momentum swings and you start putting balls in the box, you have genuine confidence that you’re going to get something.

“Ross Barkley getting on the ball, he’s a brilliant footballer, and you always believe.

“Thankfully on this occasion we did get the point, we almost threw it away immediately after, but a well deserved point.”

The result was enough to keep Town out of the relegation zone as they remained above third bottom Burnley, who went down 3-0 at Brentford.

Townsend has been impressed with the way in which his new side have set their stall out to try and achieve Premier League survival, saying: “It’s an amazing football club who deserve so much.

“Against all odds they got to the Premier League, stuck to their beliefs, didn’t overspend to stay here, spent within their means.

"Anyone who’s watched Luton knows that they’ve been in so many games and deserved more from so many games.

"They’ve been unfortunate for one way or another.

"It’s not a club who are going to be on record low tally as they haven’t got recognised world class players, it’s all about the group and the group won the point today.

"The group are going to carry on winning points and hopefully it will be enough to keep this club in the division.”

Meanwhile, boss Rob Edwards was thrilled to see his new signing able to celebrate with his new team-mates and travelling supporters after such a lengthy period out of the game.

He added: “He was so happy at the end of the game it was great to see.

"He’s missed Premier League football, been out for such a long time and for him to come on in a game like that, everything he’s done in the game, I think he really enjoyed that moment.”