Winger sets up Cole to find the net against Colchester United
Hatters boss Jack Wilshere wants attacker Emilio Lawrence to believe he can be one of Town’s main creators this season after grabbing his first assist during Saturday’s Jersey Mike’s Trophy trip to Colchester United.
Emilio Lawrence in action for the Hatters on Saturday - pic: Andy Fitzsimonsplaceholder image
Emilio Lawrence in action for the Hatters on Saturday - pic: Andy Fitzsimons
The 21-year-old, who had such a sparkling stint with the club last term when joining from Manchester City in January, ending up with two goals and six assists, has struggled to get anywhere near that kind of form since returning to Kenilworth Road in the summer on a season-long loan. Taken off at half-time during Town’s 5-2 hammering at Mansfield, Lawrence was then dropped for three games after a disappointing opening three appearances, which saw him neither find the net, or set up anyone else to do so, in what was almost a mirror image of his first spell in Bedfordshire.
However, Lawrence was then back in the side for the home match against Bradford City before the international break, where, as in his first time on loan, he showed signs of improvement following his time out of the side, playing 75 minutes of the 1-0 defeat. That upturn continued when taking on Ipswich Town U21s in their first Jersey Mike’s Trophy group stage game, the winger firing in a shot that was parried for Devante Cole to score, going on to have the most touches in the opposition box and completing the most dribbles too.
On the bench against the U’s after being away on international duty with Scotland U21s, Lawrence then came on after with half an hour gone for the injured Gideon Kodua, but it wasn’t until the second period that he really came to life and looked to have the beating of full back Sam Kuffour. Although his final ball was still lacking, Lawrence did get it right with three minutes left, bursting away again and delivering for an unmarked Cole to clinically hammer into the roof of the net on the volley, for what was his first assist of the campaign.
With Kodua now expected to be out for a while, there is an opening on the left for Lawrence to take, as Wilshere hopes he continues in a similar vein when the League One action begins again, saying: “I want Emilio to believe he can do that every time. I thought at times you could see he was doubting a little bit whether he was going to get the beating of him and I was glad he actually did and executed the cross, because he needs to build his conference. That’s his strength, that’s why he’s here, to give us those moments in the final third, to create goals, score goals.”
Although Lawrence’s change came earlier than Wilshere would have wanted in the 1-1 draw, Luton winning the penalty shoot-out for an extra point, he stuck to his pre-planned half time switch that saw both centre halves swapped, Hakeem Odoffin and Kal Naismith making way for Mads Andersen and George Johnston. On his decision to make the alteration, the boss added: "I wanted to be competitive in the game, give players a chance to play, but also not impact our training next week, as training for me and for us, as everyone knows, is really, really important.
"We have to improve and that’s the best way I see us improving. Of course this game was important and we wanted to do everything we could to get the result. The other side of it is they deserve to play as well, so it gives you the opportunity to do that. I’m happy they all came through it. Now we get back to the training pitch.”