Luton Town manager Jack Wilshere has clarified that defender Joe Johnson's recent absence from the matchday squad is purely down to selection, not injury. The 20-year-old academy graduate has found minutes hard to come by in the early stages of the season despite a strong finish to the previous campaign. Wilshere's comments come as his side sits 7th in League One with 8 points from their opening five matches.
Johnson was a fixture in the side from Boxing Day last season, starting 10 consecutive League One games. He made 18 league appearances in total, plus three in the cups, establishing himself as a promising young option. This season, however, he has started only twice in the last nine fixtures across all competitions. He was named on the bench for the Carabao Cup first round at Gillingham but was then dropped entirely for the league trip to Reading. A return to the bench against Notts County followed before his most notable involvement: a full 90 minutes in an excellent defensive rearguard during the Carabao Cup second round tie at Chelsea's Stamford Bridge.
Jack Wilshere was clear that Johnson's situation is a consequence of squad competition. "That was a selection thing and it’s been tough for JJ, hard for JJ, as the hardest part of my job is picking a team," the Luton boss said. After his start at Chelsea, Johnson was a substitute in the following league game at Mansfield, a match Luton lost 5-2 after being 3-0 down at half-time. He has since been left out of the squads for the games against Stockport County and Leyton Orient.
For those matches, Wilshere preferred a back three of Mads Andersen, George Johnston, and Hakeem Odoffin. With only six outfield spots available on the bench, the manager emphasised the difficulty of these decisions. The senior squad depth is reflected in the team's solid start, having scored 11 and conceded 11 for a neutral goal difference. Fans can view the full defensive options on the club's squad page.
Wilshere stated he maintains regular dialogue with the young defender to manage his expectations and keep him motivated. "It’s been tough for JJ." Wilshere explained. He added that Johnson frequently comes to see him, and these talks are part of the player's development. The message is one of patience and readiness for when the next chance arrives.
The immediate focus for Wilshere's side is maintaining their position in the upper reaches of the League One table. They currently sit just four points behind early leaders Sheffield Wednesday. The challenge is to turn their mixed recent form, recorded as DWLDW, into a more consistent run of results. Their next opportunity comes at Kenilworth Road against high-flying Bradford City, who are 4th, on September 19th. The full fixtures list shows this is a key early-season test at home.
For Joe Johnson, the path back into contention is through continued application in training. His story this season is a common one for talented youngsters breaking into a competitive senior environment. Luton's next match, a tough home encounter with Bradford, will be played on 2026-09-19.
