Town boss won't be giving his side Christmas Day off again

Luton chief Nathan Jones won’t be making the same mistake again in giving his side Christmas Day off again this season.

Back in the 2016-17 campaign, Jones’ first full term in charge of the club, he allowed his squad to spend the 25th at home, only to see them produce a woeful display in losing 1-0 to Colchester United at Kenilworth Road on Boxing Day.

Ahead of their trip to Reading on Saturday, Jones said: “I’ll never give them Christmas Day off again, as I did that once against Colchester.

“We’ll train Christmas Day and they’ve got two days off now so we can rest up a little bit, everyone can have a nice Christmas with their family but then we’re back down to business and some serious business.”

“It comes thick and fast as we play Reading on Boxing Day, then Bristol City and QPR, then Reading again (FA Cup), so it’s relentless.

"The two days will seem like an eternity, but that’s the way it is and you wouldn't have it any other way at Christmas.

"Well usually it's that time for fans and a real festival of football, but this year now it's not, so that's the only disappointing thing."

Town keeper James Shea will be grateful of the break too, as he said: "I've only played six games and I feel tired, so god knows how the outfield players are feeling.

"Everyone deserves and needs a little break so a couple of days to rest, get the body right and we go again next week.

"It’s going to be another tough, tough game like it is every week, Reading are flying at the minute, so we go again."

The Town boss is hoping that left back Dan Potts will make the clash at the Madjeski Stadium as well after he had to go off in the closing stages of the 0-0 draw with Bournemouth on Saturday.

Giving an update on his side’s injury worries, he added: “He (Potts) just rolled his ankle, so is a bit sore, but he’s done absolutely magnificent with the level of performances after coming back in.

“Kazenga (LuaLua) has been injured, (Simon) Sluga was back, hopefully we’ll have James Bree back pretty soon as well in the new year.

“Providing we don’t pick any injuries up we’ll be in a good place.”