Howells confident he can make left back role his own

The 24-year-old replaced Scott Griffiths at the back for the 3-2 win at Exeter City and impressed during the 65 minutes he was on the field, as Luton weren’t breached during that time.

In the past Howells has stated that full back isn’t his favoured position, as last season, he was often deployed further forward.

However, when asked about the role, he said: “I think I can play there, I think I can play anywhere when I’m given the chance.

“When I first started playing in League Two when we were minus something points, I was playing as left back.

“People have their own opinions, people dislike it, like it or not, but to be honest if we win and I’m playing left back, I’m happy.

“Some people have doubted me in that position, and some people still probably think I can’t play there, but that’s down to me to prove people I can do that.

“When you get put on the pitch for a team like Luton Town, you’ve got to give 100 per cent and I always will do that, whether it’s left back, centre midfield, left midfield, it doesn’t bother me.

“But I feel I can play left back and hopefully I changed a few people’s opinions and hopefully will carry on changing opinions, as it’s nice to now have a bit of faith with Andy (Awford) putting me in that position.”

Club captain Scott Cuthbert was impressed by his team-mate’s return to the side, saying: “He was fantastic and he’s been training with us all season.

“You can see his quality and he was itching at the bit to get in and play. He’s been at the club for years and I thought he was excellent.”

Although there were some who were shocked that Howells was thrust straight back into the first team at the weekend after not featuring so far this season, the player himself wasn’t overly surprised.

He continued: “To be fair, it wasn’t so out of the wilderness. John (Still) was trying to get me back in for a while and as it goes, it was one of those things, a coincidence maybe.”

Even though Howells didn’t feature for Still at all this term, he holds the now former manager in high regard.

He added: “It’s been a tough week because John was a brilliant person, he’s done a lot for the club.

“It’s hard for everyone, so to get three points is a credit to him and everyone else at the club, so he deserves it as much as anyone.”