Jones: 'Patient' Lockyer had to bide his time due to increased competition at Luton

Defender Tom Lockyer is getting his just rewards for staying patient during the first few months of his move to Kenilworth Road, according to boss Nathan Jones.

The 26-year-old joined the Hatters from Charlton Athletic on a free transfer in summer, activating a clause in his contract to leave the Addicks after they were relegated back to League One.

He found breaking into the Town side hard to begin with, not featuring in the league until the seventh match of the campaign, a 1-0 win at Sheffield Wednesday, stating last week that it was toughest time of his career to date.After three starts in row, Lockyer was then back on the bench for the next five outings, but returned for the 3-1 win over Norwich City earlier this month and hasn't missed a minute since, helping to keep back-to-back clean sheets and looking a class act in the victory over Preston North End on Saturday.

Asked whether he spoke to the defender about his lack of game time, Jones said: “We chat to our players regularly and without being disrespectful, Tom’s probably been comfortably the best player at other clubs he’s been.

"I'm not talking about Charlton as Charlton have some really good players, but when he was at Bristol Rovers, Tom was an outstanding one that was always liable to get a move from them, without being disrespectful to anyone.

"We’ve got real good competition, we’ve got four that have got good pedigree, Matty Pearson, Sonny Bradley, Martin Cranie has had a fantastic career, so he might have had to show a little bit of patience.

"But he’s playing at a very, very good level now that tests him and he’s been excellent for us.

"He’s been a joy around the place, he’s settled in, so we’re happy.”

On just why Lockyer did struggle to get a starting berth when the campaign began, Jones added: “We ask them to be patient, but Tom’s come in, he’s missed a bit of pre-season, didn’t play a lot of games, we had people in good flow, then we won our first two games and were in good form.

"Then he went away with Wales, so there was a lot holding him back.

"So what he’s had to do is gather a bit of momentum, bide his time and take it (opportunity) when he’s gone in and he has taken that.

"There’s time where people are out of the side and they’ve had to be patient and that’s the kind of group we’ve got.

"That’s a joy for a manager to have, so when they do get their chance, they’re ready for it.”