In their penultimate friendly engagement of the summer, Luton Town head north to face Scottish Premiership side Dundee United at Tannadice Park on Friday evening.
The Hatters' hosts are taking a break from competitive action to welcome their English foes, having already competed in four Scottish League Cup fixtures this term.
Match preview
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From four pre-season contests thus far, Luton have followed a win-loss-win-loss pattern, which bodes well for the more superstitious supporters ahead of Friday's game as Rob Edwards's team re-acclimatise to English soil.
After commencing their summer exhibition period with a comfortable 3-0 beating of Stevenage and narrow 2-1 loss to Danish outfit AGF, Luton travelled to Slovenia for a pair of behind-closed-doors affairs, firstly edging out Ukrainian side Rukh Lviv thanks to a Carlton Morris goal.
However, the Hatters' bid for back-to-back successes was futile, as even though Zack Nelson notched a second-half brace against Goztepe, the damage had already been done after the Turkish side stormed into a three-goal advantage early doors.
As the Championship season draws ever nearer for Luton - who gave a good account of themselves, especially at home, in the 2023-24 Premier League season only to go straight back down - Friday's trip to Tannadice represents their last away fixture of pre-season.
Following their Scottish stopover, the Hatters welcome Spanish outfit Celta Vigo to Kenilworth Road on August 3, nine days before they begin their bid for an immediate top-flight return against a Burnley unit with an identical goal in mind.
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While Dundee United are also still waiting to commence the 2024-25 Scottish Premiership season, Jim Goodwin's men have already experienced a few tastes of competitive action this month, taking nine points from an available 12 in the Scottish League Cup.
Friday's hosts got off on the wrong foot in Group B as they went down 2-0 to Falkirk in their opening contest, but they have since put Stenhousemuir, Ayr United and Buckie Thistle to the sword, crushing the latter 5-2 on Tuesday evening.
In addition to Kristijan Trapanovski's brace, defender Kevin Holt was on target twice from the penalty spot in that seven-goal spectacular, one which leaves Dundee United three points clear at the group summit, so they are as good as through to the second round.
Before eventually asserting their authority in the Scottish Cup, Dundee United's only two friendly battles of the summer ended in 2-0 successes over Brechin City and Annan Athletic, and the visit of Luton represents the hosts' last exhibition engagement of the summer.
Nine days after the Hatters stop over at Tannadice Park, Goodwin's men commence their Scottish Premiership campaign with a mouthwatering derby, hosting next-door neighbours Dundee on August 4.
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Team News
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Luton's sole Euro 2024 representative - Belgian goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski - should be back in action soon, but the highly-rated shot-stopper was not involved in the Goztepe loss, so James Shea may continue to guard the sticks for now.
Jamaica defender Amari'i Bell should also return from Copa America duty imminently, but his absence benefits 19-year-old Reuell Walters, one of Luton's newest recruits after turning down the chance to extend his contract with Arsenal.
Walters was named in the starting lineup for the loss to Goztepe, but Jacob Brown is still sidelined with a knee problem, and it still remains to be seen whether Tom Lockyer resumes his playing career after his harrowing cardiac arrest.
As for Dundee United, all of Goodwin's players emerged unscathed from the 5-2 crushing of Buckie in midweek, but it would not be at all surprising to see Goodwin ring the changes with nothing but pride at stake.
Tony Watt and Brandon Forbes are among the players who could threaten Louis Moult's spot in the final third, while the introduction of Lewis O'Donnell would inject some freshness into the middle of the park.
Dundee United possible starting lineup:
Walton; Gallagher, Harding, Holt; Grimshaw, O'Donnell, Babunski, Ferry; Thomson, Forbes, Trapanovski
Luton Town possible starting lineup:
Shea; Walters, Holmes, Johnson; Ogbene, Mpanzu, Baptiste, Doughty; Chong; Morris, Adebayo
We say: Dundee United 1-2 Luton Town
Even though Dundee United have got the competitive juices flowing again, Goodwin's side could be forgiven for lifting their foot slightly off of the accelerator pedal on their return to friendly action.
Some anticipated changes on the hosts' end would also play into Luton's hands, and Edwards's men therefore have our backing to emerge victorious at Tannadice Park.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ben Knapton
