Luton Town vs Mansfield Town preview - Wilkinson banned for Hatters

Posted Friday, November 28, 2014 by PA

Luton will be without the suspended Luke Wilkinson when Mansfield visit Kenilworth Road.

Wilkinson was sent off in injury time at the end of last weekend's defeat at Burton and the defender will serve a one-match ban.

Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu has been nursing a knock this week and missed Thursday's training session, but he is expected to resume training on Friday and be fit enough to take part against the Stags.

However, Alex Lawless and Curtley Williams are definitely out. Midfielder Lawless has chipped a bone in his foot and could be out for up to three weeks while defender Williams has dislocated a shoulder for the second time this season. They join striker Ross Lafayette (hernia) on the sidelines.

Loan players Keiron Freeman and Vadaine Oliver will come back into the reckoning for Mansfield.

Derby full-back Freeman and Crewe striker Oliver, who this week extended his stay with the Stags, were ineligible for the FA Cup first-round replay win at Concord Rangers in midweek.

Adam Murray, in his third game as caretaker manager, has no new problems to contend with. Defenders Ritchie Sutton (broken jaw), John Dempster and Luke Jones (Achilles), as well as midfielder Jamie McGuire (knee), remain out.

However, it is hoped that Dempster and McGuire will be back in first-team contention in the next couple of weeks.