McQuoid relieved to be playing such a big part with Luton

Hatters attacker Josh McQuoid is relieved to be featuring so heavily again for the Hatters after coming back from injury.
Josh McQuoid sprints away against CarlisleJosh McQuoid sprints away against Carlisle
Josh McQuoid sprints away against Carlisle

The 26-year-old missed 12 games after undergoing a knee operation for an injury suffered during Nathan Jones’ first match in charge, but was back against Stevenage recently.

He’s now played all but a couple of minutes in Luton’s last four fixtures, topping off his return with a goal against Carlisle United on Tuesday night, his fifth of the season.

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On his comeback, McQuoid said: “I was out for two or three months. For me, just to come back was good and I surprised at myself lasting 90 minutes in so many games.

“I didn’t have a reserve game but I got some minutes in one game (against Stevenage), coming on as a sub and in the next game I was starting and lasted 90 which I didn’t expect to do, so that’s pleasing.

“I still think there’s a bit of sharpness lacking from my game but that will come with tine. It’s important for me to stay fit now and carry on helping the team to win.

“It has obviously been a frustrating season. No-one ever wants to get injured but to come back now and get my goal is good.

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“I’m pleased I’ve lasted so many games and been starting, so hopefully I can carry on until the end of the season.

On his fifth goal this term, tucking home after good work by Joe Pigott at Brunton Park, McQuoid continued: “It’s pleasing to get a goal and hopefully I can get a few more before the end of the season and see where it takes us.

“It was a great win for us, they’re a good side, they play good football, but we set up well, frustrated them, let them have the ball at the back which we were happy with as they weren’t really doing anything back there to hurt us.

“Then Joe got a good goal, the second one for me was pleasing and we did well to hang on at the end with some great defending.

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“We knew they were going to come out fast (in the second half). They changed it up, went two up top and started going a bit more direct. The back four dealt with it well. The whole team dealt with it and then me getting the second goal put a bit of nerves to rest.

“They got the goal back which was, maybe a bit of not sloppiness, but just unlucky for us, but we showed how confident we are to stay in the game and see it out.”

Town boss Nathan Jones was pleased to have a player he was looking forward to working with available once more on the scoresheet again too, adding: “Any attacking player is pleased with getting a goal and we’ve been without Josh for a big chunk of my time.

“He played in my first game and then got injured which is unfortunate as he gives us a bit of natural width on that side.

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“It’s been important to me that we got him back and he’s slowly finding his feet, gets a goal and contributed in the previous game (at Oxford) to us scoring, so at the minute he’s in good form.”

With three games remaining, McQuoid is now looking to finish the season off in style, particularly at Kenilworth Road, adding: “We’ve gone on a good run and hopefully we can go to the home games with our positive thinking and show the fans what we can really do.”