Luton Town midfielder Luke Berry never believed he’d be a Premier League player, and two credits two managers for making it a reality

“Nathan Jones gave me that belief and the pointers to improve my game,” the Luton Town midfielder tells FourFourTwo

Luton Town are set to begin their Premier League campaign on Saturday at the Amex Stadium against Brighton, and a number of players have risen through the divisions with the Hatters since they were in the lower reaches of the Football League.

Among them is midfielder Luke Berry, who joined Luton Town at the beginning of the 2017/18 season when they were still in League Two. Last term, during Luton’s promotion to the Premier League, Berry played 21 games and is set for his debut in the top tier of English football at 31-years-old.

During his six seasons at the club, Berry has played under three permanent managers, but credits two of them specifically for developing him and the club into a Premier League outfit.

“I never believed I’d be a Premier League player before I came to Luton – he [Nathan Jones] gave me that belief and the pointers to improve my game,” Berry tells FourFourTwo.

“That’s what he did when he came back, too [in 2020]. Nathan knew a lot of the group and just believed that we were good enough to stay in the Championship. He gave us confidence and allowed us to play with freedom.”

When Jones left for Southampton in November 2022, Luton turned to former Watford manager Rob Edwards. The Welshman worked wonders at Kenilworth Road, which eventually culminated in a trip to Wembley and promotion via the play-offs.

“Rob Edwards carried on what Nathan did – he pushes you and tries to make you a better player,” Berry explains.

“We didn’t change a massive amount, but he tweaked things to make us a better team with the ball and without. He improved us and gave us calmness on the ball.”

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According to reports, Luton are plotting move for Blues keeper John Ruddy following their signing of Kaminski from blackburn.

The Hatters have already signed Tahith Chong from Blues this summer and according to some reports they are eyeing up a move for experienced keeper John Ruddy.

There’s no argument in why Luton would like to sign John ruddy as he is an experienced keeper who can be used as a backup, as he was at wolves.

The 36-year-old has played over 500 games in his career with over 160 Clean sheets. He has played a majority of his career in the Championship with a couple of seasons in the Premier League.

His best year came when he played for Wolves. He played 45 games and kept 24 clean sheets, helping wolves win the league with 99 points.

He spent the best part of 7 years at Norwich where he played over 240 games and kept 60 clean sheets. Then in 16/17 he joined wolves where he played 72 games keeping 36 clean sheets.

John joined blues for 300k from wolves last year where he proved himself again as a starting keeper.

Luton seek John Ruddy for assumedly a backup role where he would fill in for Kaminski in cup games and if he gets injured.

So, Blues fans what do you think of this transfer. Would blues be able to find a solid replacement for Ruddy and in which case who would it be?

Luton Town have agreed a deal with Birmingham City to sign goalkeeper John Ruddy, according to the Daily Mail, but the move will only be completed on one condition.

The English outlet are claiming that the Blues have accepted a £750,000 bid from the newly-promoted Premier League side but will only allow the veteran to move to Kenilworth Road if they sign a replacement.

The 36-year-old made 43 appearances for John Eustace’s team last season as Birmingham City finished in 17th, nine points above the relegation zone, confirming the club’s Championship survival for another season.

Ruddy also started in goal for the St Andrew’s club on Saturday as Eustace’s side came away with a hard-fought point in Wales against Michael Duff’s Swansea City.

Now, Birmingham look set to lose their number ‘1’ but only if a replacement can be found before the transfer window shuts in little over three weeks.

The former League One goalkeeper would join the likes of Tahith Chong and Jobe Bellingham in moving on to pastures new if a deal is to be finalised with the Premier League outfit.

One in, one out?

Luton have been in a seemingly endless pursuit of goalkeepers this season, being linked with a plethora of shot-stoppers before finally clinching the signing of Thomas Kaminski from Blackburn Rovers.

Ex-Portsmouth loanee Matt Macey and last season’s main man between the posts James Shea are still in the squad too, meaning Ruddy would be the fourth goalkeeper in the first-team.

It seems likely that one of either Macey or Shea will be leaving this summer, be it on a permanent or temporary basis, in order to compensate for the arrival of Ruddy.

Ruddy would bring an abundance of Premier League experience to Kenilworth Road, having spent several years with Everton, Wolverhampton Wanderers and most famously Norwich City in England’s top-flight.

Nevertheless, it will be a big loss for Birmingham City and so it’s understandable that Eustace won’t sanction the transfer until a steady replacement is found