Luton Town

Geoff Doyle, BBC Three Counties Radio

What a day it is going to be for Luton Town on Saturday - their first ever game in the Premier League.

The away match at Brighton was always going to be a sellout for 3,000 Hatters fans as they return to the top flight for the first time in 31 years. Fans who were heading to Southport in the Conference 10 years ago will now be making their way down to the south coast - and boy, do they deserve it.

Everyone knows it will be difficult to compete with some of the best clubs in the world. But Luton are going to enjoy it and try to ruffle some feathers over the course of the next 10 months. Can the Hatters finish ahead of three other teams in the league? That’s the goal.

Unhelpfully, Rob Edwards does have a few headaches before the opener - mainly in defence. Dan Potts limped off in Germany in the final friendly and if it is serious he is the third centre-back who will be out of the match against the Seagulls, with Gabe Osho and Reece Burke having missed near enough the whole of pre-season. Jordan Clark was another to pick up an injury against Bochum.

It is a shame for those players but they will hopefully get their moment to shine in the most exciting league in the world. Let’s see just how good players like Carlton Morris and Elijah Adebayo are.

It is going to be tough but buckle up and enjoy the ride, all you Hatters! One thing is for sure - those players will give it a right go.

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Phil McNulty, chief football writer

Last season: N/A

Predicted 2023-24 position: 20th

What a story this is - even before a ball is kicked. Irrespective of how Luton Town fare in the Premier League, they have come through the nightmare to now start living the dream of being the first club to go from the top tier to going out of the league then make the return journey to the elite.

Luton Town manager Rob Edwards proved a huge embarrassment to their great rivals Watford last season. He was sacked by The Hornets after only 11 games, moving to Kenilworth Road to mastermind a promotion campaign.

Striker Carlton Morris, who has signed a new contract, will be a big figure this season after scoring 20 goals last season while Edwards also has high hopes for new signing Tahith Chong, the former Manchester United player coming in from Birmingham City for £4m.

Difficult to see Luton Town surviving - but would take great pleasure in being proved wrong.

Find out Phil’s full Premier League predictions here

Image source, Getty Images

Luton manager Rob Edwards says new signing Ross Barkley "brings an x-factor" to his squad.

Barkley, capped 33 times by England, has joined the Hatters on a free transfer after spending last season with French top-flight club Nice.

The former Everton and Chelsea midfielder, 29, said: "Going from the Conference to the Premier League is a great story and for me personally to be back in the Premier League, it's great motivation.

"I’m still relatively young and over the last couple of years I’ve not played as much as I’d have liked.

"But I’ve reserved a lot of energy and looked after myself, so it's great to be here now as I’ve got a lot to show but I’m ready and feeling motivated."

Luton boss Rob Edwards added:, external "Ross brings loads of experience at the top level, has international experience and brings an x-factor.

"He gives us something different, he has that ability to make something out of nothing and we need that in the Premier League. He's got all the tools required to make a difference for us.

"It's really exciting for the football club. We want the fans to be excited and they should be about Ross' arrival."

There is not long to go now until Burnley, Sheffield United and Luton Town get their Premier League campaigns under way following their respective promotions from the Championship at the end of last season.

What are the chances that they stay up?

Only once in Premier League history have all three promoted teams gone straight back down again. That was in 1997-98 when Barnsley, Bolton and Crystal Palace were relegated.

Last season was the fourth time since 1992-93 that all three promoted sides (Fulham, Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest) have avoided the drop - following 2001-02 (Blackburn, Bolton and Fulham), 2011-12 (QPR, Norwich and Swansea) and 2017-18 (Brighton, Huddersfield and Newcastle).

The highest finishes by promoted sides were Newcastle in 1993-94 and Nottingham Forest in 1994-95, who both finished third. The last team to finish in the top five was Ipswich in 2000-01.

How do you survive and compete in the Premier League as a newly-promoted club? Click here to read more.

Image source, Getty Images

Luton Town wrapped up their Premier League preparations with a defeat and a win in a double-header friendly against Bundesliga side VfL Bochum.

Fielding two entirely different XIs, the Hatters were beaten 2-1 in game one although the sight of Tom Lockyer heading an equaliser brought delight to the travelling band of Town supporters.

The second game proved more enjoyable for that group as Luke Berry's double and a diving header from Elijah Adebayo secured a 3-1 victory.

Striker Carlton Morris told Luton's social media, external the players had really benefitted from their pre-season trip to Germany.

"There is a lot we can take away from this experience," he said. "That we can learn and bring to our game back home.

"We are looking forward so much to next weekend. We have been working really hard for five weeks to build up to it and now we are geared and ready to get going."