Hatters are still looking to bolster their U21 squad

Luton Town Academy & Development manager Andy Awford is planning on further additions being made by the club’s U21 squad as the season progresses.

With the Hatters hoping to achieve Category Two status for the 2021-22 campaign, allowing them to play in the Premier League’s U23 development games programme, Awford knows just how important it will be to have a side that can cope with the step up in class.

The Hatters recently signed three youngsters, Dion Pereira, who has played in the Premier League for Watford and the MLS for Atlanta United, plus ex-Crystal Palace attacker TQ Addy and former West Bromwich Albion midfielder Jack Chambers.

Awford doesn’t want to end the recruitment process there either, saying: “It’s about quality and if the right player is available and we agree as a football club that we want to do something, then we’re obviously still looking, that goes without saying.

“We want to improve the group in the quality before the quantity, as it would be very easy tomorrow to go out and sign three or four players.

"Especially in the current climate there’s more players than ever about, so for us it’s about making sure we get the right type.

“We had x amount of players at the start of the season and we wanted more to grow that group for this season, then let’s see where we are at the end of the season and let’s go again.”

The three recent additions to Town’s ranks bolstered a development squad already containing Sam Beckwith, Avan Jones, Corey Panter, Tiernan Parker, Josh Neufville and Jake Peck.

When asked if it had been something of a coup to attract a talent like Pereira who has played in the top flight and regularly in the States, Awford continued: “Without wanting to put a load of pressure on him, he’s one that we had in and we liked, same with TQ, same with Jack.

“We’ve had others in as well, we’ve got more in that we’re having a look at too.

“We’ll keep looking and the aim is to grow the group, but the emphasis is always on quality not quantity.

“We recognise that we probably didn’t have enough players at the start of the season if we wanted to grow it, but we wanted to be patient and not be rushed into just signing anyone, while also what we were bringing in was right for Luton and were they the right type of character as well?

“It’s not just what they do on the pitch, we put a big influence at Luton on recruitment of people as much footballers, and that’s important for us.

“It’s not a simple process, we work hard at it and we’re delighted that Dion, TQ and Jack all wanted to sign and let’s see how they develop now over the next batch of their career.”

On just how the Hatters decide who to offer a contract to for the U21s, Awford added: “It’s a club decision with different people from different areas of the football club.

“I’m involved in it, Nathan (Jones), Mick (Harford), I could reel it all off.

"Everyone plays their part, so it’s a real club decision to get those boys in and lets see how it goes.”