Luton Town coach Rob Edwards has hinted that he desires to keep Zimbabwe international Marvelous Nakamba beyond this season as the player continues to enjoy a brilliant spell for the championship side in his loan spell.
Nakamba joined Luton Town on deadline day during the January transfer window to seek regular football after falling out of favour at Premier League side Aston Villa.
The 29-year-old defensive midfielder has been impressive for the Hatters, who are one of the form sides in the English second tier league, featuring eight times for Luton Town since replacing Allan Campbell in the second half for his debut in the 1-0 win over Stoke City on February 4.
Luton have won four times, drawn thrice and lost once, a 1-0 defeat to runaway log leaders Burnley, as they sit fourth in the division and are well in contention for the playoffs into topflight football next season.
The club may decide to keep Nakamba on a permanent basis if they manage to gain promotion into the premier league.
While he was not keen to discuss Nakamba’s future, Edwards revealed that the club always wants to keep good players.
“I think it’s well into the future. All I can say at the moment is that I think he’s a terrific player and a terrific person. Of course, we want good players and good people at the club, but I think it’s one thing at a time,” Edwards said.
“Let’s focus on the here and the now and for him to make the most of it for himself, and for us to get the most out of it for him to try and help us get as many points as we can. But we want good people and good players here, of course we do,” he said.
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Luton made a huge statement last weekend when they beat second-placed Sheffield United at Bramall Lane to open wide the race for the second automatic qualification ticket.
Nakamba showed a lot of quality in the game to help the team grab three points away from home against promotion rivals.
Edwards believes Nakamba is happy at Luton and it has translated into the field of play.
“From day one he’s come in and been a part of the group and just loved it. He’s got stuck in, the lads love him and I think he’s really enjoying his football and it’s showing on the pitch.
“It’s really important and he’s such a good lad, he walks around and he’s so humble, so happy. He’s such a good professional though, and I can see when we are having meetings, or going through set-pieces, whatever it might be the level of detail.
“He’s asking questions, he’s picking up, you can really see his professionalism and why he’s played at the level he’s played at, and why he’s performing so well for us as well. He’s been terrific for us, and long may that continue as well,” the Luton gaffer said.
Nakamba has played at the top level, including in the Premier League and Champions League, and his quality was expected to show in the Championship.
Villa paid £11m to Club Brugge for Nakamba and the player is believed to have another year on his deal and at the moment a permanent deal at Luton appears unlikely due to wages, plus a potential transfer fee.
