New dad Palmer praised after his hospital dash

The 25-year-old had spent most of the week by his wife’s side in hospital as she gave birth on the Friday to a boy named Vinny.

However, despite not training with the side Palmer, on loan from Leyton Orient, still made himself available for selection, replacing Luke Gambin after 67 minutes.

He had an immediate impact too, seeing one effort cleared off the line, clipping the bar and then delivering a pinpoint cross for Danny Hylton’s equaliser.

Jones said: “He hasn’t trained for three days, his wife had a baby yesterday, so he hasn’t been in with us. She’s been in labour and he’s done his own thing.

“But he had the desire to do well, he wanted to come here, and impact and he’s done that fantastically well. So he gives you food for thought.”

Palmer himself admitted it had been an extremely tough few days, but he had been desperate to play for the Hatters if possible, adding: “I haven’t had much sleep this week, my little one was born on Friday, about quarter to three in the morning, so I’ve been sleeping on hospital floors.

“I did it as right as I could up until this game, as sometimes things don’t run too smoothly, but my missus is doing well now.

“She was in a 46 hour labour and other circumstances, so it was quite hard leaving them both to come here and play for Luton, but I owe it to the club in the sense that I’m having a fantastic time.

“They’ve welcomed me with open arms and I’m loving it. I’ve got to get back to my new family and then go away from them on Monday, so it’s tough, but I got to spend as much time as them with possible, they’re healthy and that’s the main thing.”