Hatters manager Matt Bloomfield spoke about the club’s pride in seeing our internationals perform so well over the weekend for their countries when he held a mid-break briefing with the local media this lunchtime.
Izzy Jones became the first Luton Town player to score a hat-trick for his nation when he bagged a treble in Guyana’s 3-2 Concacaf Gold Cup win over Guatemala on Friday night.
The following day Thelo Aasgaard scored and provided an assist on his senior Norway debut in their 5-0 World Cup qualifying win in Moldova.
“Izzy’s got a hat-trick, Thelo’s got his goal and I thought played really, really well at the weekend, I watched the game,” said Bloomfield.
“Amari’i (Bell) has been away but he’s back, as he’s got a little knock so he’s missing Jamaica’s game tonight and being assessed by our medical team ahead of the weekend.
“Joe (Johnson) has been away and done well for England as well, so it’s really great for the club for our boys to be away and playing games, and obviously we hope that they all come back in one piece and ready for the weekend.”
On Jones, who became the 68th player to appear for his country whilst a Luton player, Bloomfield said: “Since we’ve gone to three at the back and Izzy’s been wing-back, his form has been fantastic – he’s really got the bit between his teeth.
“We knew he was a top performer for the level and I think it was probably a big move for him coming down from Middlesbrough, moving his family down and it took him a couple of games to adapt, but I think he looks in great form.
“He’s fit, he’s been up and down (the wing) and against Middlesbrough he was fantastic, and that’s the boy we want back. He’s gone away and got himself some goals and we hope he can carry that form through to Saturday at Hull.”
On Aasgaard, who became the 69th player to represent his country as a Hatter, with Norway become the 25th different nation, he said: “Thelo is a top performer. We know that. He’s someone who we believe can go on even further in the game and I think what he’s shown for us already is glimpses of that.
“He’s been great, really receives in tight areas and can knit the game together for us, which we love.
“He’s gone away, in elite company and he looks like he’s right at home. It was lovely to sit and watch his game at the weekend.”
And on Bell, who played in Jamaica’s 1-1 draw with St Vincent & The Grenadines in the first leg of the Gold Cup Preliminaries before returning to England today, he added: “The club have been fantastic and really coordinated well to get Amari’i back at the earliest opportunity to be assessed.”
