Luton defender Hakeem Odoffin will be missing for the next few weeks after picking up a muscle problem during Tuesday night’s 2-1 victory over Barnsley, which could open the door for Izzy Jones to make his return to the first team.

The 28-year-old appeared to be finally over the fitness issues that blighted him during his first campaign at Kenilworth Road, going on to start all but one of the Hatters’ 10 League One games so far this term, on the bench for the second match against Notts County. However, having moved to the right back berth for the last three fixtures, pulled up just before half time in midweek, forced to hobble off, with Jones coming on in his place.

Boss Jack Wilshere hadn’t known the severity of the issue immediately afterwards, but giving an update on the former Rotherham captain this afternoon, he said: “Unfortunately he’ll be out for a few weeks. He picked up a muscle strain, which is frustrating, frustrating for him, but really frustrating for me as well, as Haks is the kind of player you find a way to get into the team, because of what he gives you energy-wise, how good he is in duels, the leader that he is.

"We’ll be without him for a while which is tough, but also gives someone else an opportunity to come into the team and make that place theirs. He did get a kick that he got on his knee, which he ran off, which is Haks’ mentality, so when he goes down and he calls for the physio, you probably know that he’s not right, so we’ll miss him.”

One of Odoffin’s potential replacements, Harrison Ashby, on loan from Newcastle United, will also miss tomorrow’s game against Leicester City, along with young Manchester United midfielder Dan Gore, as Wilshere continued: “It probably comes too soon (for Ashby). Maybe Tuesday (against Doncaster Rovers), but let’s see. He picked up an injury doing a cross before MK Dons, which we thought might be a couple of days. It’s a little bit longer, but shouldn’t be that bad. Gore, not yet.”

The injuries to both Odoffin and Ashby may well see Jones earn a recall to the side at right back for the first time since he began the 2-1 loss at Stevenage over a month ago. Town’s Grenada international had started five of the first six League One games prior to the trip to Hertfordshire, before dropping to the bench, although he has come on in all four matches.

One of those outings happened in midweek when he impressed during the second half against Barnsley, as bar one misplaced pass, he kept Tykes’ star winger Reyes Cleary quiet for the majority of the second 45 minutes, with some impressive defending, also breaking forward well at the other end, sending over a pinpoint cross that Jordan Clark really had to bury, heading over the bar.

Asked about Jones’ efforts, Wilshere said: “Izzy, I love Izzy, I love how he is, I love him as a person. It’s been hard for him because he can play in so many positions that sometimes that can be really difficult. Sometimes that’s a good thing, because we always want him available because he can play on the left wing, he can play on the right wing, he can play as a right back and as a player at times that can be a little bit frustrating where you don’t quite know where you’re going to be coming on.

"But whatever he does, however he comes on, whatever position, that’s the attitude and the commitment that he needs. He is one of, if not the best, one v one defender we’ve got in those situations, and he gives us a threat going forward as well. His attitude was spot on, he worked with the line he covered his mates, so credit to him as I can’t remember the last time he started a game, but you don’t put those performances in if you don’t train right and he needs to continue that.”

Speaking about Jones back in January, Wilshere had stated he saw the former Middlesbrough winger as his first choice right back, not venturing into the transfer market because of that stance. Asked if that was still the case now, the boss added: "He can play right back, he’s a very versatile player who is also a really good dribbler as well.

"It’s interesting, as when I first came here, I asked him that question, what’s your favourite, what’s your best position? He said right back. I think if you asked him now, he says higher up the pitch. He can play right back definitely and when he has that mindset and attitude and commitment to defend, he takes it personally, he really does and he doesn’t want to get beaten. Is his best position there? I’m not sure, I’m not sure, but he can definitely play there and be very good there.”