Spurs defender Carter-Vickers happy to play his part in Luton's Championship survival

Town’s on-loan Spurs defender Cameron Carter-Vickers was thrilled to play a part in Luton’s great escape in the Championship this term.

The 22-year-old moved to Kenilworth Road back in January, making 16 appearances as Town stayed up on the final day of the campaign by beating Blackburn Rovers 3-2.

Carter-Vickers’ contribution shouldn’t be overlooked either as he was a true class act in defence, Luton conceding just 17 goals in the 15 games he started, although that included five against Reading, while keeping five clean sheets too.

They picked up 24 points out of a possible 45, as speaking to the Spurs official website, the USA international said: “It wasn’t always easy.

“Obviously we got there in the end but it was difficult – we had to keep chipping away, keep trying to pick up points, whether it was a draw or a win, which is not always easy to do.

“It’s definitely been a good experience for me. I’ve played a lot of games which has helped me personally, but it was also good to be out there helping the team.

“It’s a great group of boys there and I feel like they deserve to be in the Championship next season – to be able to go there and help them do that was great.”

“I’m thankful to Luton for the opportunity to play for them and hopefully I’ve played a part in them staying up.”

Although Carter-Vickers joined Luton when they were faced with an immediate relegation back to League One, sitting at the foot of the table and six points from safety, he always felt they had a chance of pulling off what looked like an impossible feat.

The centre half continued: “I’ve really enjoyed it at Luton.

“Every club I’ve been to, we’ve had aims and we’ve been trying to achieve something, but when I went to Luton in January we were nine or 10 points adrift and I really went there with the aim of helping them to stay up, so to be able to do that was great.

“To be honest, when I went there, I thought it was possible.

“Obviously we knew we had to do well but I’d probably say after the first three games after lockdown where we played Preston at home, Swansea away and Leeds away and picked up five points, that put us in good stead for the rest of the season.”

Going into the final game of the season, Luton had to win to make sure of the status, which they did thanks to own goals by Hayden Carter and Bradley Johnson, plus James Collins’ penalty.

It was a very tense final 15 minutes after Rovers pulled one back, but Town hung on as Carter-Vickers added: “I always thought if we could win the game, we’d be alright, so that was our aim going into it – to win and take care of ourselves

“It was nervy, especially when they scored the second goal to make it 3-2 and we were hanging on for the win at the end, but as a defender you have to keep the ball out of the net – that’s your job – so I’m pleased that we were able to do it in the end.”

Carter-Vickers had a busy season in the end, making 31 appearances, as he played 15 times for Stoke City, under Luton boss Nathan Jones, at the start of the campaign.

He initially headed to Kenilworth Road when previous manager Graeme Jones was at the helm, but once the former Wigan and Belgian assistant left during lockdown, he was happy to see a familiar face return.

Carter-Vickers added: “I got on with him quite well at Stoke so it wasn’t a bad thing for me personally.

“It was good in a way, because I didn’t have to get to know a new manager, I knew how Nathan wanted to play and that helped me.

“I played more or less every game under him at Stoke and playing in that league in the last three years has helped me to develop as a player, not only football-wise but also mentally because it’s tough – you’re playing Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday a lot of the time – so as well as on the pitch, mentally I feel like it’s helped me to develop a lot.”