The Luton Town manager admits Lokonga’s injury is difficult to accept as the Gunners midfielder faces a lengthy layoff.
The Belgian international will miss several forthcoming Premier League matches.
Luton Town manager Rob Edwards confessed it was a great disappointment to learn that Arsenal loanee Albert Sambi Lokonga will be out for an extended length of time after suffering a hamstring injury in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers.
On transfer deadline day earlier this month, the 23-year-old was Town’s big signing, agreeing to a season-long loan from Arsenal, who paid about £15 million for him in July 2021.
Lokonga, who started alongside Marvelous Nakamba in the 1-0 defeat at Fulham and kept his place against Wolves, was expected to play a key role for Luton Town this season, particularly away from home in the Premier League, with Edwards looking to use his preferred double pivot formation to allow the Hatters to soak up pressure.
“Sambi made a real positive start to his life at Luton Town, two real good performances so it’s a real shame for him first and foremost as he wanted to come and perform, play games,” Edwards said after Town’s 1-0 Carabao Cup exit at Exeter last night.
“He was going to have the opportunity to do that with us, and it’s a real shame that we’ll be missing him for a while.”
“We’ll have to see how long it takes.
“We’re sorry for him because he had a great start and is a really good player.”
“It’s a difficult one, but it happens; it’s a part of life and football.”
“It gives someone else an opportunity and they’re going to have to step in so that’s what will happen.”
Edwards also confirmed that skipper Tom Lockyer was absent from the trip to St James Park, saying, “With us missing Sambi, we couldn’t really take a risk on Marv, that’s why he wasn’t involved.”
“Locks had a scan today because he was feeling something.”
“He shouldn’t be too bad, we’re missing a couple of important players too in the squad, although I’m not saying they would have started the game anyway.”
