Wells’ injury isn’t as serious as originally expected.
Luton manager Jack Wilshere will make a final decision on whether Nahki Wells will be available for Town in the Vertu Trophy final against Stockport County on Sunday.
The 35-year-old started the Hatters’ 3-0 League One victory at AFC Wimbledon on Easter Monday, but after missing a great opportunity to break the deadlock early on with Kasey Palmer’s inch-perfect delivery, he was taken off with 16 minutes remaining due to a groyne issue. The Bermuda international told the Royal Gazette that he was confident of being ready to face County, but Wilshere would wait until Saturday to determine whether or not he would play.
The manager said this afternoon: “Nahki felt something before the game and he was adamant that he wanted to give it a go and try, but. ” He couldn’t do it for more than 15 minutes. It wasn’t as awful as we anticipated; he hasn’t practiced much this week, so we’ll have to make a choice about him tomorrow, but he may be available. “
One thing Wilshere does not want to do is start the ex-Bradford City and Huddersfield attacker, who has won twice at the home of English football before, only to have an injury reappear and jeopardize Town’s chances of winning the final, as well as his ability to participate in the playoff push. He continued: “We’ll consider that up. ” I’ll chat with Chris (Phillips, physiotherapy director) and the other guys about that, see what they think, and how long they believe he can last. It may be one in which he sits on the bench and then enters the game; we’ll have to make that selection tomorrow. “
If Wells does not make it, on-loan Ipswich striker Ali Al-Hamadi will almost certainly be selected ahead of Devante Cole to lead the line, having been preferred above the January signing at the Cherry Red Records Stadium a few days ago, scoring his first Luton goal with a superb clipped finish from Jake Richards’ perfectly weighted pass.
Wilshere remarked: “I was really delighted for Ali, as I mentioned after the game, since things haven’t always gone his way this season. Some circumstances are beyond his control, including his injury when he first arrived, as well as an accident in which he sustained another injury. He is a player who requires a little rhythm and confidence.
Stepping outside of the environment, leaving Iraq, achieving real success, and guiding his team to a World Cup, while scoring a goal, have boosted his confidence, which I believe he required. To come on on Monday and score, I thought he grew into the game, and I appreciated a lot of what he did. There are definitely areas where he can improve, but he is a goal scorer, and we have not witnessed that this season, so hopefully we will now. “
Despite Wells being questionable, the Hatters have no other genuine concerns, with Mads Andersen returning from a five-game absence to play 90 minutes in south London on Monday, as Wilshere said: “Yes, oddly, Wembley is here and everyone is fit and available to play! ” Mads was fine. I believe Mads is someone who has done an excellent job this season in terms of maximizing his availability. Of course, he sustained a bruise against Plymouth that we couldn’t control, but we now need to get him back into the rhythm we had him in so he’s fine. “
Meanwhile, wingback Cohen Bramall was back on the bench for the match against the Dons, marking his first appearance since the 1-1 tie with Doncaster Rovers nearly a month ago. When asked if there were any concerns that contributed to his lengthy absence from the match-day squad, Wilshere responded: “It was simply selection. I’d had talks with him and will return to them; when you can only have six outfield players on the bench, it’s difficult to bring on another winger.
Shayden (Morris) has been in the squad a lot and has come on to affect the games, so he was the guy we were bringing on. We believed it was a suitable moment to reintroduce Cohen into the team. On Wimbledon’s right side, we noticed a few things that Cohen might assist us with. So it was just a selection thing and I’ll have some decisions to make about it tomorrow. “
