Staff ReporterLuton Town’s midfield dynamo, Marvelous Nakamba, is set to sit out tomorrow’s showdown against Brentford due to a knee injury he sustained while on international duty. However, fans need not worry too much, as manager Rob Edwards assures that Nakamba’s absence is unlikely to be prolonged.
The 29-year-old midfielder, who had been a mainstay in Luton’s Premier League campaign, was forced to miss last Saturday’s exhilarating 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace following an injury sustained while representing Zimbabwe. Manager Rob Edwards raised concerns about the pitch conditions during Nakamba’s time with the Zimbabwean national team in Rwanda.
Having had a week to recuperate, Nakamba is not expected to be in peak condition for the Brentford clash. Nonetheless, Edwards remains optimistic about the situation, stating, “His knee was a little bit swollen, it had a little bit of discomfort in it, we’ve had the scans and checks on it, it’s not too serious.”
Edwards also revealed that Nakamba has been involved in some light training sessions this week. He added, “We’re very hopeful we’ll be able to see him back out there very soon. It’s a positive one that when you hear knee you start worrying that it could be worse than actually what it is, so we’re fairly positive on what it is.”
In Nakamba’s absence, Luton Town managed to secure their first home win of the Premier League season against Crystal Palace. Edwards expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance without one of their star players, acknowledging Nakamba’s influential role in the squad.
“It was a very, very tight game but we managed to come out on top,” Edwards said. “Marv is clearly one of our most influential players, he’s been brilliant for us since arriving at the club, a real favourite of the supporters, someone who gives absolutely everything when he’s out there, really important for us.”
Edwards also praised the players who stepped up in Nakamba’s absence, including Pelly Mpanzu and Jordan Clark, highlighting the depth of the squad and the trust he has in his players.
While Nakamba’s return is expected in the near future, the same can be said for Arsenal loanee Albert Sambi Lokonga, who suffered a serious hamstring injury just two matches into his Luton stint. Although not included in the plans for the Brentford match, Edwards provided an optimistic update on Lokonga’s recovery, stating, “Sambi will be fit very, very soon. He’s out there full training now, trained this week, had the all-clear, it’s just tomorrow will be too soon.”
Edwards emphasized the importance of gradually reintegrating Lokonga into the squad to ensure his long-term fitness. He concluded, “But we’ll have him out on the pitch very, very soon, which is great.”
Luton Town fans will be eagerly awaiting the return of Nakamba and Lokonga as the team continues its Premier League journey.
