Fears that a Luton had been struck by a season-ending injury to one of their players have been allayed after Southport boss Liam Watson suggested that was the reason he couldn’t take Town’s Godfrey Poku back on loan.
The Sandgrounders chief conceded defeat early on transfer deadline day over tempting the midfielder back to Haig Avenue – where he had been on loan since August – insisting an unexpected blow in the Hatters’ ranks had scuppered the deal.
Luton boss Gary Brabin said: “I think he knows [Liam Watson] we’ve got a lot of injuries and I don’t know how he’s worded it. I don’t know if we have anyone out until the end of the season. I hope not.
“I think he realises that we’ve had a few concerns, whether that’s Amari [Morgan-Smith] breaking down again, or one or two injuries which we are concerned about.”
But in the midfield, winger James Dance needs more tests on an ankle problem and could be out for the month while Keith Keane (hamstring) is expected back by the weekend.
Brabin also bolstered his options in that area by signing Andre Boucaud from York City for £25,000 on Tuesday. Later that day, defenders Shane Blackett and Dean Beckwith both made returns from injury in a 2-0 Bedfordshire Senior Cup quarter final win at Bedford Town.
Poku played in that game and Brabin revealed he never intended let the former St Albans City tackler leave Kenilworth Road before transfer window shut on Tuesday.
He said: “The plan was always that he would come back [from Southport]. He’s our player, we just needed him to go out and get some experience.
“Southport have been delighted with the way Godfrey has performed. We’ve helped them out with his service and, obviously, they’re going to fight tooth and nail to try and get him back because he’s done well for them.
“He’s shown he’s capable of playing week in week, week out in this league and he’s got show he’s capable of performing like that for us as well.”
Brabin did reveal that the club rebuffed bids for his players but refused to name the clubs or stars concerned.
“We didn’t feel that the offers that came in were good enough. There was nothing that blew our mind away or even made us consider it for a second.
“They were offers which didn’t match what we feel the players were worth, and we certainly didn’t want to sell our better players.”
