Elijah Adebayo, a striker for Luton, might start for the Hatters in tomorrow night’s crucial Premier League matchup at home against Everton.
Re-entering the Town squad for the 2-1 loss at Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend, the 26-year-old came off the bench for the final 12 minutes after missing 12 games due to a hamstring injury that forced him to withdraw from the match before kickoff against Manchester United in February. After the short run-out, Town manager Rob Edwards must now decide whether to start the forward from the opening whistle given the gravity of the situation and whether Luton can climb out of the bottom three with a win over the already-safe Toffees.
When asked if he was capable of doing so in that scenario, Edwards responded, “Yes, he is,” indicating that it is undoubtedly something he is thinking about. He most likely wouldn’t be able to finish the game if he starts. Every athlete carries some danger these days; we don’t have access to a crystal ball, so we can’t say for sure, but he’s in a position where he feels good to go, so we’ll need to try and make the best decision possible regarding him. He is well-trained and problem-free, which is a huge plus.
Adebayo looked destined for another defeat when he entered the pitch with Town trailing 2-0 at Molineux, but he immediately demonstrated what Luton had been lacking. The former Fulham kid appeared adept at dodging opponents as he won a set-piece, which lead to Carlton Morris, a teammate, finally pulling one back.
“It was immediate wasn’t it, he had an immediate impact,” Edwards said, clearly happy that the frontman had caught up to the elite flight’s speed so soon. His physical characteristics alone trigger one or two issues and provoke more contemplation, but it goes beyond that. He seemed incredibly upbeat and won the corner for the goal, in my opinion. Eli’s intensity, his pressing, his physicality, his set-piece attacking and defending, have all been missed.
Eli doesn’t receive enough credit for his intelligence; he’s a really astute tactician. He always has the solution when we have meetings, and I think he doesn’t receive enough recognition for his intelligence and brilliance.
Adebayo and Morris appeared to be having a great relationship before his injury. They started three straight league games together and scored six goals between them, with Adebayo accounting for four of those goals (including a treble against Brighton & Hove Albion). The Hatters were benefiting greatly from an attacking system that also featured Chiedozie Ogbene, according to Edwards: “They were playing very well together and it was more in a three, with Carlton in a slightly more withdrawn role, so it gives us another option.”
“That was a great plus for us because there was a really nice dynamic going on prior to Eli’s injury, and it was extremely satisfying to see how quickly that connected in the closing 10, 15 minutes when Eli came on at Molineux last week. Without a question, we have missed Eli, but Carlton has been a huge contributor for us both this season and the previous one. Eli has scored nine goals in the Premier League this year, and he has scored ten, so they have both been very significant to us.
With three games remaining, Edwards wants Adebayo, who is presently on nine, to join Morris, who became the 12th player in Luton history to achieve double figures during a top level season. Morris is the first since Mick Harford in the 1991–92 campaign. “It will be a big target for Eli in these final few games now, for the lads to get into double figures in their first season in the Premier League,” he continued.
“For a squad that has struggled, that would be fantastic. It demonstrates their high caliber and the desire of goal scorers to score goals. There’s more to it than that, particularly for us. We need an all-around effort, but they still want to score goals and stay in the game because that’s what they get paid to do. It’s the hardest thing in football, and Eli would benefit much by finishing strong if he can provide a few.”For a squad that has struggled, that would be fantastic. It demonstrates their high caliber and the desire of goal scorers to score goals. There’s more to it than that, particularly for us. We need an all-around effort, but they still want to score goals and stay in the game because that’s what they get paid to do. It’s the hardest thing in football, and Eli would benefit much by finishing strong if he can provide a few.
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