Luton Town boss Rob Edwards has backed his players to deliver against Manchester City tomorrow, even though he could be without all seven of the club’s central defenders for the daunting trip to the Etihad.
The Hatters make the trip north sitting in 18th place in the Premier League and with a crippling injury list that has made their task of staying in the top flight much harder over recent weeks.
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Luton beat Bournemouth last weekend – their first win in 12 league games – and Edwards is confident his side will give it their all once again against a City side still aiming to repeat last year’s treble success.
He said: “We are already depleted. It is a huge challenge at the best of times [facing Man City]. The players have been great, the players that are available have been amazing.
“For them to be giving us what they have over this last month or so when it’s been really tough. They deserve so much credit and they are going to go and deliver again tomorrow, I know that. What I can’t guarantee is a victory or any kind of points.”
Edwards is facing a nervous wait to see if he will have a centre-half available to take on Erling Haaland with Reece Burke and Teden Mengi closest to being fit.
He added: “We’ve got seven centre halves at this club and not one has trained this week.
“Maybe we get one, maybe we get both, but maybe we don’t get either.
“Teden twice pushed through to help us win the game last week against Bournemouth and was in a lot of pain.”
Matchday 33 tomorrow 👊 pic.twitter.com/Gq8TvfLmrV
— Luton Town FC (@LutonTown) April 12, 2024
Luton have already played City twice this season, losing narrowly at home in the league before suffering a 6-2 thrashing in the FA Cup in February.
“We can go there with a belief and a confidence that stranger things have happened,” said Edwards.
“They are a brilliant team with probably the greatest manager of all time and a fantastic group of players, no matter who he plays.
“There is pressure on them to win every game because they are fighting for every trophy. We feel the same, just for different reasons.”
