Team News From The Luton Camp

Last updated : 06 November 2007 By Thetashkentterror
Kevin Blackwell
Luton boss Kevin Blackwell spoke to the official Hatters website ahead of the game against United at Kenilworth Road tonight, Blackwell bemoaning his side's current injury problems :


" Sol (Davis) is still not at the level of fitness, he went away to Peterborough and came back - it didn't work, he didn't play any games and got injured again. He's really only in his second week of full training again so unfortunately for Sol since he has had his unfortunate accident he has only played two games I think, or two parts of games. It's trying to get him back up to that level of fitness.

"Alan Goodall will be suspended for the Carlisle game, but Richard Jackson played in that position (left-back) a lot of times at Derby so there's not an issue there. We get the result of Paul Furlong's scan later today but it's unlikely that we'll risk him today or even on Saturday because it's a groin problem and if he tears it then it's an op.

"Drew Talbot (viral infection) is back in light training for the first time today and if he comes through that and another light session tomorrow we might be able to put him on the bench. We have Keith Keane (hernia) and Paul Peschisolido (ankle) back in light training, so it's possible that in two or three games we might have some of them back, perhaps for the Walsall game.

" Meanwhile Calvin Andrew will continue up front. He's working his socks off and learning fast but he's only a young lad and people need to give him time. It's difficult because he needs to make the mistakes that he's going to learn from. Ideally I would like to let him go somewhere on loan to play the games he needs, but that's impossible at the moment with all the injuries. He's not going anywhere.

"Carlisle is going to be a tough match as they're flying high at the moment, but that's the way we like it. The harder the game, the better we like it, as anyone who has seen us here against Everton, Sunderland, Charlton and Nottingham Forest will know.

"Our home form is as good as almost anybody's in the League but away I think we've only won one in the last 24. That is a rubbish statistic and we all want to get rid of it. If we can just address our away form then we can be up where Carlisle are. "



Ex-Leeds boss Blackwell has documented his injury and suspension problems in his comments although two players he hasn't mentioned are midfielder Paul Underwood who has not played for Luton now for 18 months after picking up a virus from a routine knee operation, and striker Sam Parkin who misses out with an ankle injury. Meanwhile a potential replacement in the defensive ranks in Lewis Emanuel is out on loan at Brentford and cannot be recalled in the first month of the deal.

Blackwell had been looking to bring a striker in on loan today to ease his selection problems upfront but at this late stage in the day it looks like those efforts have been unsuccessful. The news on Bolton-loanee centre-half Jaroslaw Fojut is one chink of light for Blackwell though as the Polish defender now looks likely to stay on loan at Kenilworth Road until the end of the season.


The referee for tonight's match is Gavin Ward from Surrey, and he will be assisted down the lines by David Belbin from Staines in Middlesex and Declan Ford from Leicestershire. Meanwhile the fourth official will be Geoff Law who is also from Leicestershire.