Luton Town manager Gary Brabin praised injury victim Dean Beckwith’s return to action at Bedford Town on Tuesday night.
The Hatters ran out 2-0 winners in the Bedfordshire Senior Cup second round and Beckwith, who had only played eight games since joining in the summer from Northampton Town, completed an unscathed first half.
“Dean got 45 minutes under his belt,” Brabin said. “It was always planned that he wouldn’t play the full 90.”
Beckwith has struggled with calf problems since September but Tuesday’s game at the Eyrie marked his first step to recovery.
“He felt comfortable but could feel his injury a little bit so we took him off as a precaution,” Brabin continued.
“He’s made a giant stride to playing in our league games, he’ll be training all week and will be in our thoughts for Saturday.”
Brabin was thrilled with how the Bedford match panned out, particularly because his team was filled with youth team players alongside the likes of Beckwith, Curtis Osano and John-Paul Kissock.
He said: “That was a really good exercise for the lads who have come back from injury.
“Some of the development players and youth players played great football in patches and scored two great goals.
“We had to be patient because they made it hard. They got tight, and worked hard to stop us playing.
“We got stronger and stronger and our passing became more fluent.”
Jake Woolley scored both, and Brabin reserved special praise for the 18-year-old’s efficiency.
“Jake worked his socks off. His second goal was outstanding. Some great football, young Charlie Smith was involved, and Jake has just lifted it over the keeper.”
Beckwith, 28, is likely to be involved in the first-team squad for the weekend’s FA Trophy third round encounter at Kidderminster but it remains to be seen if any of Luton’s youngsters have done enough to be included.
The Hatters have also been drawn against away to Biggleswade Town in the semi-final of the Bedfordshire Senior Cup.
