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NATHAN JONES ON TRANSFER DEADLINE DAY

31 August 2017

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Club News

NATHAN JONES ON TRANSFER DEADLINE DAY

31 August 2017

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Town boss Nathan Jones isn't expecting any deadline day drama at Kenilworth Road as he thinks he has all the necessary tools to build on a strong start in Sky Bet League Two this season.

He conceded there might be some movement at the club, but it will only be low key business.

The gaffer said: "There might be a few loose ends tied up, but I don't envisage it being masses and masses of business today. We're in a good place and have done most of our business, but you never know.

"If something becomes available, we're in a position where we're able to do something about it, but it's about just properly organising the squad really. We might look to loan one or two out or things like that, it's just tidying up the squad as we've got big numbers now.

"There might the odd bit of business late on, but there's always the loan window reopening for National League clubs, so it depends who we want to let go really.

"We're not envisaging a mad rush or anything, I'm very relaxed about things and I'm glad we're in the position we are."

Questioned on whether he thought there would be any late deals to bring anybody to the club, the Welshman explained there is always room in his squad for a player who adds a quality the team does not already possess.

"Realistically, if it meant that we could significantly improve the squad, then there would be scope to do that," he continued. "But unless something comes up that we feel could significantly improve on what we have, then no, we don't want to upset the equilibrium, we won't look to change that really late.

"If there is an opportunity, I'd never turn that down, because we're always looking to move forward. I'm very loyal, I want to develop players, but at the end of the day we all need to move forward."

With ten additions already during the summer transfer window, Nathan Jones has a large pool of players competing for starting positions, but as the season is still in its infancy, he believes individuals have plenty of time to force their way in.

Jones said: "It's a long season ahead, only four games in at the minute, so the ones who haven't figured yet, I know they'll be impatient, but it's a long season ahead.

"I don't envisage one to 11 playing the next 42 games, so we're going to need that strength and it also gives us options, if we want to revert different stuff, or go back to our second shape, then we can and we have the personnel to do that.

"That's key to having a good, strong balanced squad and that's what we feel we have."

Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu recently extended his contract with the Hatters until 2020, but has been linked with a move away from the club.

Jones was quick to play down the rumour and doesn't anticipate any of his key players moving on before 11pm this evening, unless an audacious bid is put in.

"If offers come in for established players who are in our first team, then there's no time to replace them," he adds. "Again, I can't categorically say, because sometimes ridiculous things happen.

"But I can say there are absolutely no plans, or no thought of losing any of our first team players going into the close of the window. We've had no official bids for Pelly and nor would we welcome them.

"He's signed a new long-term deal because he's still developing. He has massive attributes, but for him to develop into a footballer, he needs his rough edges polished and this is the place for it.

"He understands that, his family understands that and his representatives understood that, and that's the good thing.

"He has to get better if he wants the career that I believe he can have. But he's in a fantastic place and we've had to kind of start him from scratch as he was a specimen when we came in, but he wasn't a durable one.

"Now we've made him into that, now we're getting games out of him, getting training sessions out of him, getting levels of performance out of him.

"Now we have to find that little bit of composure and once we get that, we've got a wonderful, wonderful player.

"Pelly's got a bit of everything. He's got that raw strength, power, like Isaac Vassell, just strong naturally and quick, pace and just very, very powerful people. I suppose clubs want that, as if they can improve that a small bit technically, you're not too far away from the complete player."


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