2 weeks Ago By Mike Simmonds
Luton boss Rob Edwards won't be putting any pressure on defender Tom Lockyer’s hopes of being able to return to playing in the future despite the centre half making it clear he is desperate to represent both his club and country once more. The 29-year-old, who was fitted with a defibrillator after suffering an on-field cardiac arrest during Luton’s Premier League trip to AFC Bournemouth in December of last year, is now back at the Brache once more, undergoing his own training programme as he looks to step up his rehabilitation process. Lockyer has gone on record with his desire to add to his 117 appearances for the Hatters, as writing in his captain’s programme notes recently he discussed his ambition to run out at Kenilworth Road once more as a player.
Advertisement Advertisement Did you know with an ad-lite subscription to Luton Today, you get 70% fewer ads while viewing the news that matters to you. With Town leaving a space spare in their 25-man squad submitted to the Football League recently, asked if that could possibly be for the skipper to come back in the second half of the campaign if he is allowed to do so, Edwards said: “I don’t want to put too much pressure on Locks at the moment but we’re aware there’s one space there. "Locks has got his plan, so he’s got to keep ticking off those weeks and stick to that plan.
We’ll see how he shapes up in the coming months, but we’ve got good numbers in the group and with the three young ones that have all been quite involved (Zack Nelson, Reuell Walters and Joe Johnson) that don’t count in the 25-man squad there’s good numbers there. “Of course he does (want to play), he’s made that clear for quite a while. We want to try and support that now, do things the right way, and we will, and Locks knows that as well.
That plan, he’s on board with it. Let's see how things progress, but it’s brilliant having him around the training ground again and around the place, the meetings, out on the grass. To see him there is brilliant.
” After making his ambition clear to play for the Hatters, speaking to BBC Radio Wales recently, Lockyer also discussed a dream to add to the 16 caps he has won for his country, the last coming in November 2023 when featured in the 1-1 Euro qualifier against Turkiye. Having been part of squads at both the Euro 2020 Championships and 2022 World Cup in Qatar, he said: “I'm really positive and happy with how things are progressing. Obviously I don't want to get too far ahead of myself, but obviously I wish I was playing.
I would love one more cap. Just one more. Just give me one more - but it's a long way away.
" Advertisement Advertisement When Lockyer was last called up, it was under former boss Rob Page, the ex-Northampton Town chief leaving his role back in June. With Wales under new management now, ex-Liverpool, Manchester City and Cardiff striker Craig Bellamy taking over, starting with a 0-0 draw against Turkey and then beating Montenegro 2-1, the Cardiff born defender believes it has been a good appointment, adding: "I still keep in touch with a lot of the boys, and everything coming out from the boys I've spoken to has been really positive. "There's been a lot of information to take on board.
International games are a lot different, you don't have a full pre-season like you do with the clubs to instil these things. There's been a lot of information in a short space of time but it's all been good. There's going to be a real identity about us.
I'm really excited. I think the pedigree he (Bellamy) comes with having worked with Vincent (Kompany) at Anderlecht and also Burnley as well, I think he'll bring a similar style of play.".
