Luton Town will be the latest club to make their Premier League bow after earning promotion to the top flight via the play-offs in 2022/23.
The Hatters’ meteoric rise culminated in their penalty shootout victory over Coventry at Wembley in May, with Luton now preparing for their first top flight campaign since 1992.
The odds are stacked against Rob Edwards’ side in terms of survival, but Luton, given their stoutness and home form, have the potential to follow the blueprint laid out by recent Premier League debutants who beat the drop in year one.
Here’s 90min’s preview of Luton’s 2023/24 season.
|
Season |
Championship |
FA Cup |
EFL Cup |
|---|---|---|---|
|
2022/23 |
3rd (promoted via play-offs |
R4 |
R1 |
|
2021/22 |
6th |
R5 |
R1 |
|
2020/21 |
12th |
R4 |
R3 |
|
2019/20 |
19th |
R3 |
R3 |
|
2018/19* |
1st (promoted as champions) |
R3 |
R1 |
*Luton played in League One during 2018/19.
Ins:
Outs:
*Numbers subject to change before end of transfer window
|
Number |
Names |
|---|---|
|
1 |
James Shea |
|
3 |
Dan Potts |
|
4 |
Tom Lockyer |
|
6 |
Ross Barkley |
|
8 |
Luke Berry |
|
9 |
Carlton Morris |
|
10 |
Cauley Woodrow |
|
11 |
Elijah Adebayo |
|
13 |
Marvelous Nakamba |
|
15 |
Admiral Muskwe |
|
16 |
Reece Burke |
|
17 |
Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu |
|
18 |
Jordan Clark |
|
19 |
Dion Pereira |
|
20 |
Louie Watson |
|
22 |
Allan Campbell |
|
23 |
Fred Onyedinma |
|
25 |
Joe Taylor |
|
27 |
Aribim Pepple |
|
29 |
Amari’i Bell |
|
30 |
Luke Freeman |
|
32 |
Gabriel Osho |
|
33 |
Matt Macey |
|
45 |
Alfie Doughty |
*Mads Andersen, Issa Kabore, John McAtee, Chiedozie Ogbene, Tahith Chong, Ryan Giles, Thomas Kaminski and Glen Rea have not yet been assigned squad numbers.
Star player
Luton will need to score goals if they’re going to survive, and Carlton Morris will operate as their primary goal-getter.
The well-rounded forward scored 20 times in the Championship last season and was far and away Luton’s leading man in front of goal. Morris has been around the block since graduating from Norwich’s academy, but there’s no doubting that he’s finally found a home at Kenilworth Road.
His signing last summer proved to be revelatory as he ensured Luton built on their impressive 2021/22 campaign, but only time will tell whether he’ll be able to score regularly at the highest level.
One to watch
Luton have targeted the EFL in the transfer market this summer, and the likes of Mads Andersen and Tahith Chong could prove shrewd additions in their bid for survival. However, the signing with the highest ceiling is, without question, the loan of Issa Kabore from Manchester City.
This will be Kabore’s fourth loan since joining City in 2020, and he made 22 Ligue 1 appearances for Marseille last season. The dynamic full-back has all the makings of a relentless, two-way wing-back in Rob Edwards’ system, and he’s set to quickly emerge as a regular at Kenilworth Road.
The 22-year-old was named the Best Young Player at the 2021 African Cup of Nations as Burkina Faso reached the semi-finals.
Home kit
Away kit
Debut run-out for the away kit. 😮💨#COYH pic.twitter.com/dvbB6HNRWk
— Luton Town FC (@LutonTown) August 3, 2023
While we’ve seen Premier League debutants have success as of late, survival will surely be beyond Edwards’ side. While the manager’s foolproof system ensured Luton were a rigid outfit that were incredibly tough to beat at home in the second tier, it’s hard to imagine the Hatters enjoying similar success in the top flight.
Luton may well spring a surprise or two, especially at Kenilworth Road, but they simply don’t have the talent to survive in a mightily strong Premier League.
Luton 2023/24 Premier League prediction – 19th
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