Luton Town

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Luton Town boss Jack Wilshere has rejected criticism of centre-back and captain Kal Naismith from some supporters.

"I can hear the fans, and have read some stuff as well, and I just don't agree," he said.

The 33-year-old is set to play his 100th game for the Hatters, having rejoined them in the summer, in Saturday's FA Cup tie against Fleetwood Town.

"He's been outstanding. He stands up in tough moments, he's faced adversity himself at times, but I know how much he's respected by the staff and the players," Wilshere told BBC Three Counties Radio.

"Omario (Cozier-Duberry of Bolton) is arguably the best player in the league and for someone to control him and be aggressive from the first minute, he killed Omario's spirit - he's a top defender and also really good with the ball.

"Number one, he cares about his team-mates, but he also really cares about the club and bringing the club back to where it belongs, getting promoted out of this division, he has a real big ambition.... and we love him."

League Two club Fleetwood have home advantage for the second-round tie - only the third meeting between the two clubs, and first since 2019.

"They can hurt you and have a certain way of playing that they're good at and we have to be ready for that, and match their fight and their spirit, and try to be good with the ball and try to hurt them in the spaces that we see," WIlshere added.

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Former Luton Town midfielder Kingsley Black says the sale of their 1988 Littlewoods Cup trophy for £320,000 is "incredible".

The trophy was auctioned off on Tuesday and fetched more than 10 times the sum that was expected.

"It was broken by some form of high jinks - obviously the repair was successfully done to achieve such an amazing price at auction," Black told BBC Three Counties Radio.

"The irony is that for previous games at Wembley, you were given small medals but the actual medal itself that the players were given were replica trophies that were about eight inches tall and beautifully made - the detail was exceptional.

"I'm fortunate to have a couple of these because we also reached the final the following year against Nottingham Forest when unfortunately they beat us, so I've got two of these replica trophies - one says winners and one says finalists. I wonder what they're worth."

After taking an early lead in the final 37 years ago, Luton came from 2-1 down with goals by Danny Wilson and the second of the game from Brian Stein to win 3-2.

"To be involved in a major part of their history is a wonderful memory for me," said Luton-born Black, who played more than 150 games for the club.

"The biggest memory was the feeling that the game was slipping away until the fabulous Andy Dibble penalty save. That gave us a massive boost and enabled us to get the equaliser and then go on for Brian Stein to score the winner.

"It was a wonderful occasion, a hot day, it was end to end, good to watch and certainly good to play in."

Luton Town head coach Jack Wilshere praised his team's ruthlessness after they demolished Exeter City 4-0 to progress to the last 16 of the EFL Vertu Trophy.

The Hatters, who won the competition under Mick Harford in 2009, took control after scoring three times in the first half despite making 11 changes.

"You always hope that when you change players, as a coach you want the same behaviours, the same energy and the same attitude and they delivered on that," Wilshere told BBC Three Counties Radio.

"We need everyone. I just have to make decisions on where certain players are at, do we need centre-half cover? Do we need right-back cover?

"We have players that are ready to step in and the next time a game (in this competition) comes around, there'll again be players that haven't played (for a while) and I'll have to find a way to get them to deliver and be ready for league games."

Wilshere gave teenager Joe Johnson his first game of the season at left-back, with former Arsenal youngster Reuell Walters returning for his first appearance since August on the other flank.

"Reuell is someone I know well - you could see he was ready to step in against a team that can be aggressive and can hurt you, you have to be ready to step in and win duels," Wilshere said.

"JJ is someone I've only really seen for the last two weeks in training. He worked out when to use the inside space and sometimes the outside, and technically he was clean as well.

"They are two interesting profiles that can help us, and I'm really happy that they're back and healthy, and had a good performance."

Luton are next in action away to League Two side Fleetwood Town in the FA Cup second round on Saturday.

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Luton Town striker Jerry Yates believes "massive competition" in the squad will help them push on positively in the weeks ahead.

The Hatters bounced back from a 5-0 defeat at Barnsley - described by Yates as a "minor blip" - with a 2-1 win over Huddersfield on Tuesday in which the former Swansea striker scored the winning goal.

It was his first in League One since mid-September and the three points put Luton seventh in the table.

"We were humbled by it [losing at Barnsley], so we needed to dig deep and work hard," Yates told BBC Three Counties Radio.

"I had a concussion which set me back a couple of games when I felt I was getting into my rhythm, but it's part and parcel of the season, it's a rollercoaster - you're going to have ups and downs.

"I've got to go out there and help the lads as much as possible even if it's just occupying the two centre-halves.

"The competition within the group is massive, people pushing each other every single day in every single position, it's healthy competition."

Luton are at home to sixth-placed Bolton Wanderers on Saturday and will move above them if they win.

Luton Town forward Jacob Brown is relieved to have finally made his comeback following ankle surgery.

The Scotland international was sent on as a 78th-minute substitute in Luton's goalless draw with Rotherham United on Saturday.

It was his first appearance since he was injured in a game against Middlesbrough in March and a boost to boss Jack Wilshere as the Hatters look to try to push on into the top six in League One.

They are eighth in the table and Brown told BBC Three Counties Radio: "With my previous injury and this one, it's been a difficult 18 months, really.

"When I stepped on the pitch, I felt quite emotional because I've worked very hard to get back to where I am now. It was a special feeling.

"Obviously, coming on at 0-0 as a striker, you think you can come on and score the winner. I had a couple of chances - maybe in a couple of weeks when I'm a bit sharper, I could get a goal there.

"When you're out for so long, you can't help (the team) and that's one of the hardest things. It's part of the game, I've been unfortunate but it's made me who I am today and I wouldn't change that."

Luton are away to Barnsley, one of Brown's former clubs, on Saturday.