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Luton Town winger Andros Townsend says he is "having fun" on the pitch again after signing a short-term deal with the Hatters in the summer following a failed move to Burnley.

The former England winger expects his time with Luton will be extended beyond next month too.

"I've always loved my football but it's only when you have something taken away from you that you really appreciate every single moment," Townsend told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.

"If I give the ball away or if I hit the ball over the roof, which I did last week, I'm just having fun with it. I'm fit and healthy. I'm on the pitch. I'm back doing what I love and I'm contributing again. So, whatever happens [in January], I'm just enjoying it.

"There are talks going on in the background. If I was injured or not playing then I would be getting a bit twitchy right now. But I've started the majority of games, so I'm 99 per cent sure something will get sorted in terms of a longer deal."

Richard: Baffling team selection from Poch yet again. Jackson starts ahead of Nkunku??? Sterling and Enzo on bench when they are both fresh? We need to take every game seriously……the last 18 months has proved that there is no easy game for the blues!!!

Lifelong Chelsea fan: Can't quite figure out Poch's team selections. From playing centre backs as full backs to not picking your best team every match. We can't afford the luxury of waiting for players to hit their stride while we have better options on the bench. I don't profess to know what Poch knows but I know we need points.

James: We will get a game full of chances today. Palmer and Madueke will create chances for Chelsea, with Caicedo and Colwill making chances for Luton.

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Mauricio Pochettino's first competitive win as Chelsea boss came in the reverse fixture against Luton back in August.

The Blues won that game 3-0 with Raheem Sterling scoring twice and Nicolas Jackson also hitting the back of the net.

In each of Luton’s last three top-flight campaigns before this season, their final game of the calendar year was at home against Chelsea.

They lost 3-0 in 1989, before 2-0 wins in both 1990 and 1991.

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At this moment there is no doubt that of the three promoted teams, Luton are the favourites to stay up. They have earned that title on merit.

Let’s be honest, nobody would have said they have the best chance of staying up and that just tells you about their spirit. They have determination among players, a way of playing and they are getting results away from home. You always knew at Kenilworth Road it would be a tough place for any team to visit, but they have also got some good wins on the road.

There is a long way to go and Luton just need to keep looking at the next game, keep doing what they are doing and try not to get too carried away. We have seen so many promoted teams in a good position and then after Christmas, your opponents work you out and second time around you don’t have it as easy.

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Ollie Kay, We Are Luton Town: "What a difference a week makes.

"This time last week we were cut adrift from the pack with nine points, our captain had been stretchered off and the fanbase and team were in shock about what had happened.

"But now the team have banded together and pulled off back-to-back wins, against Newcastle and Sheffield United, the latter being a textbook six-pointer.

"We now sit on 15 points, well within touching distance of the rest of a division that once appeared so far away.

"Could we do the impossible and grab that third win in a row when Chelsea rock up to Kenilworth Road?"

Charlie Adam
Former Blackpool midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live

Chelsea are a bit like a rollercoaster at the moment.

Their next few games are Luton, Preston, Middlesbrough, Fulham, Middlesbrough, Liverpool, Wolves and Crystal Palace. You'd expect Chelsea to win every game there apart from the Liverpool match.

If they can come through that period by winning every game, they'll be in a cup final, they'll be higher in the league and really kicking on for the second half of the season.

Jermaine Beckford
Ex-Leeds, Leicester and Everton striker on BBC Radio 5 live

I think one of the biggest things for Chelsea is not to look too far into the future for this season. I don't see them challenging for a spot in Europe at all. They're another side in a transition period and they've got a lot of really good young players that are going to be good in 12-18 months time.

It's just a matter of bedding those players in, getting them to understand what the football club and the league is about and getting some experience mixed in to help nurture them.

Luton Town manager Rob Edwards speaking to TNT Sports: "I can’t speak highly enough of them. They are such a tight-knit group. I don’t’ think you achieve what you however without being close, but being good as well.

On Tom Lockyer: "He’s good, he’s bored already sat around at home. He was hammering my new trainers for Christmas on Boxing Day, he’s in good spirits.

On recent form: "I think the way we are evolving now, we are beginning to look a little bit like the team we were in the Championship, we are getting more of the ball. We are looking to get more of an identity and be a threat. We want to be aggressive and fight, never, ever give up and hopefully today, you will see a team that is totally committed.

Kenilworth Road form: "We want to make it difficult for any team. Any team in our situation wants to make it tough to go there and hopefully, get the amount of points we need. We want to make it difficult, but we have to give teams like Chelsea the respect. We have to compete, learn from the last time we played them, run hard.

Moving out of the relegation zone with a win: "It would be nice to end 2023 out of the bottom three."

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Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino to TNT Sports: "It’s amazing, it’s quite unique. I’m enjoying the experience of Kenilworth Road, it’s lovely to be here. Now, we need to compete, it’s going to be tough and Luton have been getting good results here.

"We know really well that we are going to have hunger and the goal for us is to match that hunger. It’s a massive challenge, we hope the Crystal Palace win will show we are improving. The game against Luton is another type of football you need to know how to manage and it is another opportunity for us.

"[Consistency] is a point we need to work on and with experience, to grow in our mentality. We have a young team and that lack of experience together, we need to manage situations better in games in a different way. You cannot buy time, you can try and try to push in different areas, but you can’t buy time and you grow in experience every day.

"Thiago Silva is an experienced player who can help always. In a busy period, we need to add some fresh players to the team, but it is always to try and win the game. It is good to compete. All the players need to feel like they can help. For sure, they are ready, but sometimes we need changes."

Here's how things look for Chelsea, who sit 10th after beating Crystal Palace on Wednesday.

The Blues have struggled for consistency this term, however, and have lost four Premier League games, which is why the idea of a defeat at Luton is not as unrealistic as it perhaps may have seemed at the start of the season.

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Here's the situation at the bottom of the table, with those back-to-back wins for Luton giving them real hope of avoiding an immediate return to the Championship.

Three points at home to Chelsea today will elevate them out of the relegation zone, for a few hours at the very least.

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Luton midfielder Ross Barkley speaking to TNT Sports: “It’s great, it’s different, an old school ground. The fans are really close to the pitch. It’s great to be a part of, the fans get us going. It’s different to the bigger grounds, it has the history, it gets you going.

“I probably say frustration over the last couple of years [has led to improved form in recent weeks]. I didn’t play much in my last couple of players not getting the minutes I probably deserved, but the players Chelsea had, it was tough. At Nice, I didn’t think I got the game time I deserved. Now, I’m getting the rhythm and playing game after game and just gaining confidence.

“I spoke to the manager in the summer and he just said what he expects from me. Over the years, I’ve become more disciplined, but I do have the freedom as well. With Andros, he’s added a different style of play as well. It helps with the way we play.”

Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino says there is something romantic about playing at older-style stadiums, such as Luton Town's Kenilworth Road.