Luton Championship Odds: Premier League return beckons for Hatters

Luton Town are in a good place right now. Most teams coming down from the Premier League, do so in a state of disarray, as they desperately try to get big earners off their books in a bid to stabilise the club. However, the Hatters come down having only spent around £23m of their new-found riches on new players last summer, and the majority of those arrivals are sticking around for a stint in the second tier. 

I’ve taken a look at Luton’s Championship odds, as Rob Edwards looks to guide his side back to the top flight at the first time of asking.

Last Season: 18th (Premier League)

Top Scorer: Carlton Morris (11)

Transfers In: Shandon Baptiste - Brentford (free), Reuell Walters - Arsenal U21 (free).

Transfers Out: Ross Barkley - Aston Villa (£5m), Ryan Giles - Hull City (£4.5m), Gabriel Osho - AJ Auxerre (free), Luke Berry - Charlton (free). 

First Game: Burnley (H)

Prediction: 2nd

I’m feeling fairly confident about Luton’s chances as we head into this Championship season. They haven’t done a lot in the transfer market, but they don’t need to, with all the hard yards being done last summer as they entered the Premier League for the first time. 

The main stars are all still there. Carlton Morris and Elijah Adebayo are bound to score goals in the second tier, having both hit double figures against some of the finest defenders in world football. Meanwhile, Chiedozie Ogbene and Andros Townsend are great wide options with Tahith Chong and Marvelous Nakamba making up a seriously strong midfield. 

Last year these players were not out of their depth at Premier League level, so in a weaker Championship, they should be able to feature in the race for the automatic places. Alfie Doughty is sure to attract some interest before the window closes, and Ross Barkley has already departed, but it feels like this squad was put together with the expectation of relegation.

That’s not the negative comment it appears to be. They are all willing to give this Championship season a real good go, and I see very little reason to think this will be anything other than a successful term at Kenilworth Road. We also must touch upon Rob Edwards, who was shown loyalty by the club as he failed to keep them in the top flight. 

Unlike Vincent Kompany, Edwards will be sticking around to try and repay that faith and as a result, Luton have one of the very best managers in this league at their disposal. With Edwards at the helm, and a squad littered with elite Championship talent, I see no reason why they can’t seriously challenge for the title. 

In my eyes they are by far the strongest team coming down from the Premier League, in comparison to Scott Parker's Burnley and a Sheffield United side that are in transition under Chris Wilder. Leeds United are going to be contenders once again, but aside from that, in terms of title winners, I'm not sure there are any standout sides this year. Coventry, Middlesbrough and Norwich will try to push into the top six, but as for the top two, I think there are two teams clear of the pack, and Luton are one of them.

Judging these Championship seasons is very much about risk-mitigation. We already know exactly what we are going to get with Luton, and that is why they are such a solid pick in my eyes. They are going to be so tough to beat, just as they were in their promotion-winning season, and as a result, I think even if they massively underperform, they will finish in the top six. 

However, Edwards has a habit of getting his teams to overperform rather than underperform and because of that brilliant manager and this squad that trusts him implicitly, I believe a second-placed finish is on the cards. 

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