New Hatters signing is ready to finally test himself in the Championship once more

Luton's summer addition Jordan Clark is looking forward to testing himself in the Championship again after moving to Kenilworth Road recently.

The 26-year-old played six times in the second tier, five as a substitute, when beginning his career at Barnsley back in 2010, before dropping down the leagues in search of regular first team football.

At Oakwell he was in the same team as both Kieran Trippier, on loan from Manchester City and John Stones, who are now established England internationals, Trippier currently at Atletico Madrid and Stones with Manchester City.

Although Clark has had to go a different route to getting his chance in the Championship once more, he is determined to make the most of a second opportunity.

He said: “I was around the first team with those guys.

“They’ve gone on to superstardom, but it’s not for the lack of hard work.

“John, when he got into the Barnsley squad, was probably the best player every week, so consistent, and that’s probably why he’s doing as well as he is.

“It was no shock to me. Obviously, I’ve taken a different path and taken a lot longer to get where I want to be, but I’m so hungry to improve and be successful in this division.”

Loan moves to Chesterfield, Scunthorpe and Hyde before a two-year stint at Shrewsbury have helped Clark develop into the player he is now though, as the midfielder continued: “It didn’t work out for me and I had to go down the lower leagues, which was tough, but I think it’s made me grow up as a player and as a person.

“It made me mature a lot and gaining experience of playing every week, playing for clubs and playing for points that matter so much to clubs.

“It gave me that experience to play and to showcase what I’m about.

“It’s been a long road in League Two and League One, but I’m really looking forward to it and testing myself as high as I can go now, kicking on, playing as many games and scoring as many goals as I can, creating chances and getting as many assists as I can and winning as many games as we can.”

The move to Town from Accrington seems like a natural progression for Clark, who arrived at the Wham Stadium, with Stanley a League Two outfit.

He helped John Coleman’s side reach the third tier, pipping the Hatters to the title that term, but while Luton went on Accrington stalled somewhat, understandably, meaning Clark realised he had to seek pastures new to further his own ambitions.

He said: “That was the only aim I had, a couple of seasons in League Two and League One, I did really well and I wanted to push myself and play as high as I possibly can.

“When I got the shout, the chance to come and play here, it was a no-brainer.

“It’s an unbelievable club, I got the chance to play here, as the opposition, it was probably the toughest place I played.

“I want to play and test myself as high as I can and when I got the chance to come here, I grabbed it with both hands.

“Now I’m really, really excited and so ambitious.

“I want to push myself, get in that team, keep my spot and play as many games as I can.”

Although Town found themselves locked in a relegation battle last term, Clark doesn’t think they should be going through those emotions again this time.

He added: “The first thing he (boss Nathan Jones) said was that we don’t want to be in the position we were last season.

“We want to be aiming as high as we can and the points total they got from the last nine games was promotion form, so we want to take that into this season.

“Who says we can’t kick on and finish as high was possible and win as many games?

“You never know where it’ll take you when you get on a little run. You start flying up the table and confidence starts filling the squad.

“Confidence is a scary thing in football.

“No matter who you’re playing for, or what team you are, when you go on that run it’s hard to stop you at times.”

The manner in which Luton finished last season, with three wins from four and one defeat in nine, taking 16 points from a possible 27, gives Clark an added boost that Town they can hit the ground running in a few weeks time.

He added: "The lads have all come back in great shape, it’s looking good and looking really positive.

"I think everyone’s in the same boat, really, it’s about getting the hard yards in the legs early on and getting back into the swing of things, but the momentum from last season is massive and we hope to take it into this season."