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Hammers loanee nets late FA Cup goal to send Luton through
Luton boss Jack Wilshere revealed that attacker Gideon Kodua had been left frustrated with his own performances ahead of his match-winning introduction off the bench in the FA Cup on Friday evening.
Having been brought in on a season-long loan from Premier League outfit West Ham United in the summer, Kodua had made four starts for the Hatters in the league under previous bioss Matt Bloomfield, who signed him for the third time in his fledgling career after two spells at Wycombe Wanderers, coming on a further four times, also adding two goals, including a last-gasp penalty to earn a 2-2 draw at Blackpool.
The 21-year-old then began all of Wilshere’s first three matches in charge, as after struggling, like the rest of his team-mates did, to make a huge impact in the 2-0 home loss to Mansfield, putting one chance into the side-netting, he then was inches away from finding the net in the 1-0 triumph at Northampton Town, seeing one shot go wide and then hitting the bar with another.
Gideon Kodua looks to get forward against Forest Green Rovers - pic: Andy Rowland / PRiME Media Imagesplaceholder image
Gideon Kodua looks to get forward against Forest Green Rovers - pic: Andy Rowland / PRiME Media Images
Kodua also started the 3-1 Vertu Trophy success over Brighton & Hove Albion U21s, with an assist for the first goal when his shot was turned in by Jerry Yates, before dropping to the bench against the National League high-fliers last week. With Town 3-2 up, he was then introduced alongside Yates on 71 minutes in a bid to reassert Town’s superiority, only to see the visitors swiftly even the scores up and then look more likely to go on and win it.
However, it was Kodua who ensured that Luton were the team to go through and earn what was a second round trip to League Two opposition in Fleetwood Town when released by Yates’ perfectly weighted through ball as he smashed home his third of the season. Asked about the impact of his substitute, Wilshere revealed that there had been an element of disappointment from the youngster in his efforts since he took over, as he said: “I’m really happy for Gideon as he’ll probably admit himself that he’s not been happy within himself and he's struggled a little bit for confidence.
"Since I’ve been here he’s been really good and his intentions are right all the time, he tries, but probably hasn’t got the success he wanted at times. So we decided to give him a rest and we knew that against teams like this and in this league in general, subs are big. We saw that in Northampton, we saw that again today and that’s an important message for the players.
"I think Yatesy deserves credit as well, as I thought he was outstanding against Brighton (scoring twice). We put him on the pitch coming off the bench which he could have been disappointed with because he did well against Brighton but he wasn’t disappointed, he had the right energy and you could see him trying to help the team and we’re going to need him.”
Kodua was one of five players brought on by Wilshere throughout the evening, as striker Ali Al-Hamadi had his first taste of Kenilworth Road action having been out with a calf injury since arriving on deadline day, coming on for Izzy Jones, who had been starting his first game of the campaign, summer signing Hakeem Odoffin then introduced for the final few moments too. Midfielder Liam Walsh was also back which leaves only a small number of Luton players now sidelined for once, something Wilshere thinks will aid his youngster going forwards, as he continued: “They have quality and what I said about Gideon being a bit frustrated with himself, having players back like that will help Gideon.
"It will help him, he can see them, see their quality and it will lift his level as well. We need absolutely everyone and it’s good to have those guys back. I thought Izzy showed some really nice moments and then Ali shows a nice moment at the end. There’s more to come from them but we’re really happy to have them back.”
Kodua himself welcomed the battle for a place in the starting XI beginning to hot up, as he added: “It’s good to get the players back in and to see them back on the pitch. It’s Al’s first game back, so good to see him and my first time playing with him. It’s healthy competition, and as well as that they’re my family, so I always want them to do well.”
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