Luton Town

Image source, Rex Features

Luton Town midfielder George Saville has stressed the value of patience as the Hatters look to bounce back from successive relegations in the past two seasons.

Saville joined Luton from Millwall this summer and scored his first goal in Tuesday's 1-0 win over Wigan, their third victory in four games at the start of the new campaign.

"It's a good start when you look at the big picture," he told BBC Three Counties Radio.

"At the start of the season, if you were asked three (wins) out of four, you'd take that. Nine points on the board, it's important to win games.

"We've had a feel for the league now, we know what it's going to be like, teams are giving their all and it's about us staying patient, doing the basics right and then our quality should shine through in the end.

"It's important we inject pace into the game and play at our tempo and our level, play how we want to play - it's very easy to get in a lull, easy to get dragged into a cagey fight, (and) that slows rhythm in a game.

"Teams are making it hard for us for a long period of time but when they start getting tired, that's when we start dominating the ball."

Luton are at home to Cardiff City - also relegated from the Championship last term - in a lunchtime kick-off on Saturday.

"We're in League One for a reason and it's about what we do now, it's important we show that we want to get straight back out," Saville added. "The same with Cardiff, so it will be a good game on Saturday."

Ipswich Town are willing to part with Iraq forward Ali Al-Hamadi, 23, amid interest from Luton Town and Cardiff City. (TeamTalk), external

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Thursday's gossip column here.

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Luton Town boss Matt Bloomfield plans to give some of the under-used members of his squad a run out when they take on Championship club Coventry City in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday.

The Sky Blues were the team Luton beat at Wembley in 2023 to win promotion to the Premier League, and Bloomfield is now trying to turn their fortunes around again following back-to-back relegations.

Bloomfield told BBC Three Counties Radio: "There will be changes because in pre-season we managed to get the majority of the group up to a good level of match sharpness and there are guys who have been harshly done by to not play more minutes in the first two league games."

Mark McGuinness, Zach Nelson and Lamine Fanne are among those who may start after appearing against AFC Wimbledon and Peterborough United as substitutes.

"They will be given an opportunity to stake their claim for a spot," said Bloomfield.

"We believe that's our best route to try to win the game. We've now got a busy few weeks coming up - if we can win on Tuesday, that gives us four Tuesdays in a row when we're busy playing. If not we've got three out of the next four.

"We need a whole group that's at it and contributing."

Middlesbrough and Oxford United are vying for Luton Town striker Cauley Woodrow, 30, who spent time on loan at Blackburn last season. (SportsBoom, external)

The Hatters have seen two bids for 20-year-old Gillingham forward Joe Gbode turned down. (Pete O'Rourke, external)

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Friday's gossip column here.

Coventry City are among those interested in Luton Town midfielder Lamine Fanne but the Hatters are not looking to part with the Spanish 21-year-old this summer. (Rudy Galetti), external

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Tuesday's gossip column here.

Reading are weighing up a bid for Ross County striker Ronan Hale with League One rivals Luton Town and Wycombe Wanderers also tracking the 26-year-old Northern Ireland international. (Belfast Telegraph), external

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Monday's gossip column here.

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Luton Town boss Matt Bloomfield has said he is still "keeping an open mind" about new signings, despite a busy transfer window.

The Hatters have made eight summer signings so far, including Nahki Wells and Hakeen Odoffin.

When asked if there would be any more arrivals or departures ahead of their League One campaign - Bloomfield told BBC 3CR: "Who knows?"

He added: "The window not closing [until September 1] is both a blessing and a curse, because we can bring people in, should we see fit, but you're a sitting duck for others to take the players you want to keep."

After Luton's relegation to League One, Bloomfield has gone about restructuring the squad, with seven players also leaving.

"I thank Gary [Sweet, the Luton CEO,] and the board for their backing. We are still keeping an open mind, because, should we lose anyone else, we've got to have plans in place.

"We're still searching for the last one or two, if they're right. If they're not, we won't [sign them].

Bloomfield also confirmed, after a pre-season 0-0 draw with Spurs, that Alfie Doughty's absence was the "right one for the football club" after he picked up a knock. The wing-back has been linked with a move to Millwall.

He added that Teden Mengi will miss a "little period of time" with an unspecified injury, with Bloomfield unsure of the severity of issue, while fellow defender Joe Johnson will also be out "for a period of time" with a hamstring injury.

Millwall are in talks to bring Luton Town's Alfie Doughty, 25, to The Den, where the versatile English left-back would be expected to play in a more attacking role. (Mirror), external

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Monday's gossip column here.