Jones: This is the strongest squad I've had with Luton

Luton boss Nathan Jones believes he now has the strongest squad available to him since he has been in charge at Kenilworth Road.

The Hatters chief first took over at Kenilworth Road back in January 2016, leading Town to promotion out of League Two, with a team including James Justin and Jack Stacey.

The pair of full backs were then virtually ever-present the following campaign, even after Jones himself had moved on to Stoke City in January 2018, starring as Town reached the Championship.

Although the pair’s form ultimately saw the Premier League come calling, Justing going to Leicester and Stacey healing to Bournemouth, Jones is now confident he has an eveb better group available to him.

After making nine changes to see off fellow second tier side Reading in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night, he said: “We want a competitive squad that gives us dilemmas.

"When you’ve got a group that’s really on the front foot, that wants to do well, wants to test each other, it’s great for a manager and we have that at the minute.

“I think it’s the strongest squad that we’ve had.

“We bemoaned the fact that we lost two excellent, top, top full backs, but I think we’ve replaced those now.

"Only time will tell how good they can be, but we feel that we’re covered in all areas.

"We felt that we missed the attacking threat of Jack and James before, but now we feel we’ve got that back with the two we signed.

"So we feel this is the strongest squad that we've ever had, it really is and we’re very pleased.

"We're still looking to add if we can, but we're very happy with the place where everyone is.”

In the duo’s place this season are James Bree and Rhys Norrington-Davies, the former joining from Aston Villa on loan last term, impressing greatly once Jones returned to take over in May.

Meanwhile, Wales U21 international Norrington-Davies has already caught the eye at left back with some fine displays since arriving for the season from Sheffield United.

Jones continued: “We’re happy, we always look in that position and it’s been very difficult to get real good, attacking full backs that can defend, that are athletic and have quality, so when you get them you can nurture them and you look after them.

"We have two, we believe, two excellent ones.

"We’ve always been blessed with good full backs here, with (Dan) Potts, the two we just mentioned, even Stephen O’Donnell who was very attack-minded and has gone on to have a good career.

"We’ve always had decent full backs here and we’re pleased that we have another two plus the ones that are already here with Peter (Kioso) and Pottsy.”

The impressive start by both means that former Dunstable Town full back Peter Kioso, signed from Hartlepool in the transfer window in January, might have to head out on loan for some first team football.

He made a second appearance for the club during Tuesday's 1-0 win at Reading, replacing Bree for the final five minutes, as Jones added; “He’s probably been slightly unlucky really as if James Bree had been fit from the start, then things might have conspired to give me a different selection problem.

"I probably could have played someone else at centre half, and then Peter probably would have started (at Reading), but the way things have gone, Sonny (Bradley) had to double up.

"That’s the way it is though, it's good for Peter to get minutes as we like him here, it’s just he’s got some very good ones in front of him at the minute.

“It’s either he continues his development here within our environment or he gets that (a loan move), as one way or another he has to be tested.

"Now if he’s not getting enough game time here, then it will be a loan, but whatever happens, he’s getting tested here, he’s getting better and he works so hard.

"He wants to do well and we’re pleased with him.”