Luton Town manager Jack Wilshere has backed Manchester City loanee Emilio Lawrence to respond strongly after a challenging start to the season. The 20-year-old winger, who rejoined the Hatters in January, was left out of recent match-day squads but is now expected to fight for his place again.
Wilshere's comments come as his side sits seventh in League One with eight points from five games. They are four points behind leaders Sheffield Wednesday ahead of a key home fixture against fourth-placed Bradford on September 19th.
Emilio Lawrence made an immediate impact after his January arrival, starting in a 2-1 win over Stevenage and featuring against Swindon Town, Lincoln City, and Plymouth Argyle. His adaptation to men's football proved difficult, however, after moving from Manchester City's U21 setup and Scotland U21 duty. He was subsequently dropped from the side.
He fought back a month later, setting up Nahki Wells in a 1-1 draw at Port Vale. Lawrence also played a part in Luton's Vertu Trophy triumph, scoring against Stockport County at Wembley and finishing his loan spell with two goals and six assists. Despite that contribution, the Hatters missed the play-offs by a single point.
Wilshere explained that Lawrence's slow start this term was understandable. "He’s trained well, he’s trained well since he’s got there and that’s why he went straight in," the manager said. Lawrence started the League One opener at Reading but struggled, and was later substituted at half-time during a 5-2 defeat at Mansfield. He was then omitted from squads to face Stockport County and Leyton Orient.
"I thought again, putting him straight in and maybe the first two games, I could kind of understand if he was a little bit off the pace because of the pre-season that he had," Wilshere added. He noted that Lawrence had returned from Manchester City's loan group lacking meaningful summer football, which required a few games to get up to speed.
The Luton boss highlighted a significant gap between U21 football and the professional game. He stated that academy football feels like a different sport compared to men's football, where fighting for points and competing for second balls is essential. Wilshere believes there is a specific intensity required at this level that cannot be fully learned in an U21 environment.
He stressed that while time in U21s is important, the experience of a competitive first-team battle is irreplaceable. Lawrence, like other talented youngsters he has worked with, possesses clear quality. The challenge is applying it consistently in the rough and tumble of League One, where Luton have scored 11 and conceded 11 so far this campaign.
Wilshere is confident the winger will regain his place. "He will get his opportunity again and will be better for it," he said, predicting Lawrence will emerge stronger mentally. The manager has no doubt fans will see the same positive reaction that followed his earlier omission last season.
With a busy period ahead, all members of the squad will be needed. Luton's next test is a tough one at Kenilworth Road against high-flying Bradford, a match that could see Lawrence return to the fold. Fans can check the full fixtures list for the rest of September's schedule.
The Hatters will look to improve their defensive record, as they aim to close the gap on the automatic promotion places.
