Luke Walsh
Luton Town international round-up: What Hatters around the globe got up to ahead of Qatar World Cup
As we prepare for the return to league action against Hull City in front of the Sky Cameras on Friday night at the KCOM stadium, we have a quick look at what our players got up to during the last international break before the Qatar World Cup in November.
One of the biggest stories to come out was the United States' manager Gregg Berhalter's decision to leave Ethan Hovarth on the bench, after they lost 2-0 to Japan and drew 0-0 with Saudi Arabia. During the game against the Japanese, the Stars and Stripes failed to record a single shot on target compared to Japan's 16. Many American fans are holding Matt Turner, who is number 2 at Arsenal, to account when Hovarth was on the bench, having come into International Duty in good form following our win at home against Blackburn.
Hovarth's omission from the American team will be a telling factor, as the USA are of course in Group B alongside England, Wales and Iran, and will face the Three Lions on 25 November.
Meanwhile, one player who will not be travelling to the World Cup but made a good impression for his country was Amari'i Bell, who played a full 90 minutes for Jamaica in a 2-0 defeat against Lionel Messi's Argentina in New Jersey. Whilst even Nathan Jones was full of praise for his performance, he critised the fact it was staged in the US, considering the Hull fixture is 48 hours away.
He said of Bell, whilst in conversation with Luton Today:" “I’m delighted he got to play against Lionel Messi, got to play against Angel Di Maria, got to play against Argentina, which is wonderful for his career, but playing a game in America, it just reeks of something for me.
“I’m delighted for him in terms of experience, it will do him the world of good, going up against that talent, I just question the validity of the friendly."
An honourable mention goes to Development Squad forward Ed McJannet, who led Republic of Ireland Under 19s to victory against Hungary in UEFA Euro Under 19's Qualification.