Luton chief doesn't want a repeat showing from star QPR midfielder Eze

Luton boss Nathan Jones is hoping that either he and the Hatters won't be on the receiving end of another wonder show from QPR midfielder Eberechi Eze this evening.

The 22-year-old, who has been capped at both U20 and U21 level by England, scored a wonderful solo goal on the opening day of the season for the R's as they won 2-1 at a Stoke City side then managed by Jones

A month later he was terrorising the Hatters at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium, netting the first as QPR ran riot in the opening 30 minutes, taking a three-goal lead, as they looked like world-beaters at times.

Town did hit back twice to make it 3-2, but any supporter who was there couldn't have failed to be impressed by the talents of Eze.

He has carried on his impressive form, scoring 12 time this term, but Jones doesn't want another showing of his prowess in front of goal tonight, saying: “He’s a very, very good player.

"He was excellent against me in the first game of the season.

"He scored, so I don’t want a repeat of that.

"They’re a dangerous side. The away game was a real eye opener, but every game, it’s a cliche again, every game is so difficult as everyone has players who can hurt you.

"If you’re not on it and switch off you can get punished, so we were really lacklustre against Reading, who weren’t in particularly great form, but they have certain players who on their day, they really, really can hurt you.

"QPR are exactly the same, so we've got to make sure we’re the best versions of ourselves and that’s all we can do.

"I’ve played against QPR, I’ve managed against QPR, so I know that they’re a tough side to play against with some real good players.

"We’ll have to be at it, but we have to concentrate on our threats and make sure we’re as good as we can be.

"If we are then hopefully we can pick up the result we need.”

Eze hasn't been able to inspire his team to the season of success that had looked on the cards after half an hour of their victory against Luton some 10 months ago, sitting in 16th place.

Mark Warburton's side had gone into lockdown in decent form too, unbeaten in six, with three wins.

However, that hasn't continued since the season resumed though, with five defeats from six, their only win a 1-0 triumph at Middlesbrough, scoring just two goals in that time, drawing a blank in four matches.

They are virtually assured of their Championship status, eight points above the drop zone with nine to play for, so whether that could see them metaphorically already on the beach isn't a concern to Jones.

He said: "I don’t know, all we know is we can’t afford to take our foot off the pedal, as if we are one or two per cent off then we know we’ll get punished.

"We can only concentrate on what Luton Town do and then other people's motivation is up to them.

"We just have to make sure that we prepare well, we are motivated because the stakes are so high for us."

When asked whether he went through the motions as a player towards the end of a campaign, Jones added: "If I’m honest, I’ve had a career in playing and coaching where I was either at one end of the table or the other.

"We were either struggling to say at Championship level or we were flying in League One, so I haven't had too many mid-table finishes.

"Since I went to Spain, we won promotion, I went to Southend and we were relegation.

"I went to Brighton and we were always promotion or relegation, depending what league we were in.

"Yeovil, one season we had promotion, the rest was staying up, other than my last season.

"It’s individually different, some might be on the beach, some might do that, but I don't envisage that's going to happen.

“If it does then we've got to make sure we’re in the position to take advantage of that.

"If they're not and they are fully committed then we have to make sure we’re the best version of us as they have real threats who can hurt you."