The first test - Wilshere’s Hatters

Carabao Cup visitors, Luton Town

Luton Town arrive at Priestfield for Saturday's Carabao Cup tie as one of League One's leading promotion contenders and full of optimism under manager Jack Wilshere.

One year after suffering back-to-back relegations from the Premier League and the Championship, the Hatters appear to have halted their slide.

The club's revival began in October when Matt Bloomfield departed and Jack Wilshere took charge. The former England midfielder’s connection to Luton stretches back to his childhood, having started his youth career at Kenilworth Road before joining Arsenal's academy.

After a disappointing start to the campaign, which included a first-round Carabao Cup exit to eventual Championship winners Coventry City, Luton finished strongly. They won nine of their final 11 league matches to end the season just one point shy of the play-offs and capped their resurgence by lifting the Vertu Trophy at Wembley, where Nahki Wells scored twice in a 3-1 win over Stockport County. Their route to the final was unusual, having been reinstated in the competition after Round of 16 opponents, Swindon Town were found to have fielded two ineligible players.

A productive summer recruitment drive has only strengthened expectations that the Hatters will challenge for a return to the Championship.

Their current position marks another chapter in one of English football's most remarkable modern journeys. Having climbed from the Conference to the Premier League in little more than a decade, successive relegations threatened to undo years of progress. Now, under one of England's most recognisable young coaches, the Hatters head into the new campaign believing they are once again on an upward trajectory.

League Cup pedigree

Luton have a proud history in this competition, famously lifting the League Cup in 1988 with a dramatic 3-2 victory over holders Arsenal thanks to goals from Brian Stein (2) and Danny Wilson. They followed it up by reaching the 1989 final where they finished as runners‑up, beaten 3-1 by Brian Clough’s Nottingham Forest.

Key arrivals this summer

Harrison Ashby, 24, right back who played with Wilshere at West Ham, arrived on a season-long loan from Newcastle United. Ashby is the son of former Gills defender, Barry who made over 300 appearances for the club between 1997 and 2005. He played in both Second Division play-off finals against Manchester City in 1999 and Wigan Athletic the following season.

George Johnston, 27, centre back signed from Bolton Wanderers on a free transfer brings leadership and aerial presence.

Highly rated young striker and Northern Ireland international, Callum Marshall, 21, joined from West Ham, for an undisclosed fee believed to be around £1.5 million.

Kasey Palmer, 29, an attacking midfielder made the move from Hull City for £500,000 after an excellent loan spell at Kenilworth Road last season in which he scored eight goals in 20 League appearances.

Luton’s midfield creativity is further bolstered by Jordan Clark and Liam Walsh both signing new deals over the summer.

Departures

Departures included Christ Makosso, Millenic Alli and Cauley Woodrow, with Luton opting to refresh key areas of the squad ahead of the new season.

Alongside these senior departures, several academy and other young players have headed out on loan, including former Gillingham striker Joe Gbode, who joined The Hatters last summer. Gbode, 21, made five substitute appearances for Luton last season before spending time on loan with National League side Woking. The striker returns to League Two this campaign after joining Shrewsbury Town on a season-long loan.

 Pre-season

A productive pre-season, which included a week-long training camp in Murcia, saw victories over Hitchin Town, Al-Kholood from the Saudi Pro-League, Walsall and Dutch side Go Ahead Eagles B, with their only defeat coming against the Eagles’ first team from the Eredivisie.

Match history

The clubs last met competitively in the second round of the League Cup in 2023, shortly after Gillingham had defeated Championship side Southampton in the opening round. Newly promoted to the Premier League, Luton progressed with a 3-2 victory, despite goals from Jayden Clarke and Tom Nichols for The Gills.

Last summer, the Hatters returned to Priestfield for a pre-season friendly and ran out 2-0 winners, while the sides' most recent league meetings came in the 2018/19 League One campaign, when Luton won 3-1 at Priestfield before a 2-2 draw at Kenilworth Road.

The only fixtures played between the two sides in the 1970s were in the League Cup.

Gillingham emerged as 4-1 aggregate winners in a two-legged first round tie in 1979. The first leg, a 3-0 win at Priestfield, was notable for a ‘competent’ first team debut for 18-year-old Steve Bruce. Gills were eliminated 5-3 on aggregate in the next round by First Division Norwich City.

Luton claimed a 1-0 victory in the first-round tie played at Priestfield in 1970 thanks to a goal by Malcolm Macdonald.

Luton have enjoyed the better of the fixture over the years, winning 47 of the 94 meetings between the clubs. Gillingham have recorded 27 victories, with 20 matches ending all square.

Luton prevailed 1-0 on their first visit to New Brompton, as Gillingham were then known, in February 1896 during the club’s third season of existence in the Southern League. The return fixture proved more dramatic, with Luton recording an 8-1 victory as several hundred ‘Bromptonians’ took advantage of the Easter holiday at the Dockyard to make the journey and support their side in Bedfordshire.

Verdict

It remains to be seen the priority Wilshere will attach to this season’s Carabao Cup and how this will impact his team selection. Regardless, with a strengthened squad, momentum from last season and promotion firmly in their sights, Luton represent a formidable opening challenge for Gillingham. If The Gills are to enjoy a Carabao Cup run, they will need to overcome one of League One's strongest sides.