Town manager Jack Wilshere believes his side are starting to show signs of an identity ahead of their trip to Reading as the Hatters look to break into the League play-off positions.

Speaking to local media, Wilshere stated: “We’re starting to build an identity of who we want to be, we’re doing it in training and we are starting to do it in games, we just have to be a little bit more consistent with it and when things get a little bit tough, we have to believe in it still.

“You have to take your moments. I learned that pretty fast in the first game where we had some nice moments, but we missed a penalty and then there are some quality teams in this league that will hurt us.”

The Hatters are looking to bounce back from their frustrating 2-2 draw against Port Vale at Kenilworth Road, with Wilshere believing other clubs raise their game against Town.

“We went 1-0 up and then conceded a cheap goal from a set-play, which we weren’t happy with, that changes the game and changes the feel in the stadium, that’s where we need to keep the belief in the things we’ve been speaking about.

“I think being where we are, who we are, in the league that we’re in – with us being a Premier League club two years ago, there are a lot of teams who come to our place and lift their game because they want to beat us. It is nothing we can’t deal with but we need to be better in certain moments.”

Wilshere also spoke about needing to have full personnel available before he can claim to have settled on his best eleven, saying: “I think with the squad we’ve got and the schedule we’ve got, we must make sure that the players are fresh and certain players who can’t play every two days get looked after.

“Yes, we want to get forward, create chances and score goals, but we also want to be secure under the ball, defend our box better and stop these transitions against us.

“Have we found the best eleven? Probably not, we haven’t had everyone available, we’re constantly looking at the squad and adapting, while always keeping the same principles in place.”

Words by: Liam Wilmot