Luton manage to snare MK Dons striker Nombe at the second time of asking

Luton boss Nathan Jones revealed how deadline day striker Sam Nombe had been on the Hatters’ wish-list well before he made the switch to Kenilworth Road last week.

The forward was one two signings completed just hours before the transfer window closed on Friday evening, announced after the 5pm deadline, joining Leicester City midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall in penning a loan deal until the end of the season.

Nombe had been a target of the club when former boss Graeme Jones was in charge, but the move didn't materialise then, with Town having to wait almost a year, and undergo a change at the top, to get their man.

Jones said: “To be fair, the club has been following him for a while.

"The initial bid went into MK at Christmas and I wasn’t here, so since I’ve come back, he’s someone that has been on the radar, we’ve followed that up and we’re all fully behind the signing.

“Mick (Harford, assistant boss) identified him, we went in with a bid, we didn't get him so now we’re glad to get it done.”

Although Nombe hasn’t had a prolific spell since turning pro, scoring six times in 50 games for MK Dons, netting just once this term, with loan stints at both Maidenhead United and Oxford City, Jones believes that if given time, he has the skill-set to be a real talent for Town.

He added: “We have two established ones (James Collins and Danny Hylton) and Harry Cornick in the building, it gives him time, there’s not the pressure on him he suddenly has to go in and hit the ground running.

“If he’s ready, he will go in, but we have a chance to evaluate him, see where he is and then put him on the right path.

“He has pace and power, willingness to learn, he has a lot of attributes.

“We want athleticism, we’re in the Championship now where everyone has athleticism and pace and power.

“We don’t have that in abundance, we have that in certain individuals, but we need to develop that side and Sam ticks that box.

“To get ready-made pace, power and talent, is outside our budget, but that’s why we've always been a developing club and we like to cultivate talent here, so he will be given an opportunity.”