Luton boss Jack Wilshere declared that the Hatters’ Vertu Trophy success played a big factor in enticing one of his main transfer targets, Manchester City winger Emilio Lawrence, to turn down interest from elsewhere and sign a season-long loan deal at Kenilworth Road this morning.
The 20-year-old moved to Bedfordshire from the Etihad in January of last year, and having struggled initially, dropped from the match-day squad as he adapted to the harsh nature of senior football, put the work in at the Brache to win his place back and then go on to become a first team regular for the duration of his loan spell.
Lawrence went on to feature 21 times in all competitions, scoring twice and adding six assists, while having netted his first goal against Stockport County in the league, a classy strike on his right foot, the Scotland U21 international was then on target again when the two teams faced each other at Wembley, racing on to Jordan Clark’s pass to drill a left-footed attempt through the legs of Corey Addai and draw his side level.
Emilio Lawrence celebrates scoring against Stockport County at Wembley - pic: David Horn / PRiME Media Imagesplaceholder image
Emilio Lawrence celebrates scoring against Stockport County at Wembley - pic: David Horn / PRiME Media Images
Nahki Wells’ double then ensured Luton lifted the trophy for the second time in their history and Wilshere believes that success was pivotal in finally being able to do a deal he had been desperate to secure since the end of last campaign. Speaking to the club’s official website, he said: “From the last day of the season, I was clear with Emilio that my intention was to bring him back.
“He did well with us, so of course he then has more interest in him than he would have had last January, but I'm so happy that he sees us as a club where he needs to be to continue his development. It works both ways. We as a team look better with him in it, so he helps us. But we can also help him develop. He really grew in his time here last season. I think it was a shock to him when he came in and experienced League One for the first time.
“But as we always say, experiencing something is so much better than explanation, and you have to go through that difficult period to know that. He certainly did that and he came out the other end. I think about the first game when he came back into the team, Port Vale away, and he played as a wingback, which he'd probably never done in his career.
“I liked his attitude to that and yes, it probably wasn't his preferred position, but he never complained. He got on with it. He understood what he had to do to get back into the team and we always knew he had the quality. Then he won something with these lads, which you can’t underestimate as a factor in getting him back. We created that unity with the culture here, which he was part of, and they’ll all be as happy to see him back here as I am.”