Adrian Clarke looks at key players of the three clubs joining the Premier League in 2023/24, focusing this time on Luton Town.
Chiedozie Ogbene
Republic of Ireland international Chiedozie Ogbene looks an exciting summer addition.
The 26-year-old is quick, with and without the ball, so instantly adds much-needed pace to Luton's starting XI.
It will be fascinating to see how Rob Edwards utilises him.
See: Why Luton's unique approach can ruffle feathers
Ogbene built a reputation as one of the EFL’s best wing-backs in the 2021/22 campaign, but last season he was used more often in a striker’s role.
His skill and speed added unpredictability to Rotherham United’s attack, and he impressed, scoring eight goals and producing four assists.
In Luton’s 3-5-2 system he could feature up front, or as a dynamic wing-back, providing his manager with versatility and tactical options.
The Irishman’s pace could make him an ideal foil for Carlton Morris, especially when running on to the striker’s flicks.
Ogbene's starting positions
| 2022/23 | Total |
|---|---|
| Striker | 22 |
| Right-side forward | 10 |
| Right midfield | 7 |
| No 10 | 1 |
In possession Ogbene is also a good dribbler, creating 31 chances (including 19 shots for himself) from positive ball carries.
This approach made him one of the most-fouled players in the Championship last season.
Most-fouled Championship players
| 2022/23 | Club | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Alex Scott | Bristol City | 96 |
| Ryan Manning | Swansea City | 95 |
| Chiedozie Ogbene | Rotherham United | 88 |
Ogbene’s ability to draw mistimed tackles could be really beneficial to Luton in 2023/24.
They will rely on their prowess from set-pieces, and he is an individual who is sure to earn them more free-kicks inside the opposition half.
Carlton Morris
Luton’s direct style of football is reliant on their centre-forward winning aerial challenges, holding the ball well, and feeding off crosses sent into the opposition box.
Ticking all those boxes, Morris enjoyed his best season yet in 2022/23, scoring 20 Championship goals en route to promotion via the playoffs.
The 27-year-old is 6ft 1in tall and uses his muscular frame to dominate duels with rival centre-backs.
Two-footed and extremely powerful in the air, he has the potential to trouble a host of defenders in the coming months.
A varied finisher
Morris conjured up a wide range of finishes for the Hatters last season.
He attacks both the near and far posts exceptionally well from crosses, scoring eight goals from inside the six-yard box.
The ex-Barnsley striker is right-footed, but scored seven goals with his left last season, including a selection of fierce low drives into the bottom corner.
Morris's 2022/23 goal breakdown
| Goal type | Distance from goal | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Left foot | 7 | 0-6 yards | 8 |
| Right foot | 7 | 7-18 yards | 11 |
| Header | 6 | 18+ yards | 1 |
Morris, who wears the No 9 shirt, also carries the ball with poise and purpose.
From fast breaks he is confident enough to beat his marker in a 1v1, and after holding the ball up it is not unusual to see him drive forward before attempting a strike on goal.
Morris had 25 shots at the end of ball carries in 2022/23.
One other point worth noting from last season is Morris’s impact at key moments for Luton.
His 20 goals were worth an additional 17 points to the Hatters, and remarkably, 15 of his 20 strikes were Luton’s opening goal of the match.
Scoring at decisive times, often handing his team the lead, Morris was truly outstanding.
And he has continued that form into pre-season, having scored three goals in four matches so far.
Morris could interest managers in Fantasy Premier League, with the forward being priced at just £5.5m for the 2023/24 season.
Tom Lockyer
Luton captain Tom Lockyer claimed five awards at the club’s end of season presentation night, including Player of the Year.
The Wales international is a popular figure at Kenilworth Road, and after having successful surgery to correct the atrial fibrillation that caused his on-pitch collapse in the playoff final at Wembley Stadium, he is set to be a key player for Luton in the Premier League.
Playing in the middle of a back three, the 28-year-old is above all else a calm and reliable presence.
Using his game intelligence sensibly, Lockyer has top-class positional sense.
This helps him intercept passes, block shots, and repel danger when balls are sent into Luton’s box.
Stationed in the right places, and a leader who loves to attack the ball, Lockyer made 196 clearances in 2022/23.
Most clearances in the Championship
| 2022/23 | Club | Clearances |
|---|---|---|
| Michal Helik | Huddersfield Town | 219 |
| Tom Lees | Huddersfield Town | 201 |
| Liam Lindsay | Preston North End | 199 |
| Tom Lockyer | Luton Town | 196 |
| John Egan | Sheffield United | 191 |
He is not the tallest central defender, standing at just over 6ft tall, but the Welshman’s timing is excellent.
For this reason, he won 174 aerial duels, ranking him fifth for defenders in the second tier.
The defender uses this skill to attack corners very well too. A regular threat at set-plays, he scored four times last season.
In possession, Lockyer’s presence is also valuable to the way Luton perform from a tactical perspective.
He often starts moves from the back and is terrific at clipping forward passes into a striker, or diagonally to one of the wing-backs.
As shown in the table below, Lockyer attempted more long passes than short passes throughout the course of the last campaign.
Lockyer's passing stats
| 2022/23 | Attempted | Completed |
|---|---|---|
| Short passes | 371 | 282 |
| Medium passes | 745 | 564 |
| Long passes | 474 | 245 |
His quality distribution from back to front is pivotal to the way Luton play.
Also in this series
Part 1: How Kompany has transformed Burnley
Part 2: Burnley's key men offer poise and pace
Part 3: How Heckingbottom has revived Sheff Utd
Part 4: Two key Sheff Utd players to look out for
Part 5: Why Luton's unique approach can ruffle feathers
