'We think highly of him' - Luton boss explains why 16yo Nigerian received his first call-up for a PL game 

Luton Town manager Rob Edwards has explained why he named 16-year-old defender of Nigerian descent Christian Chigozie in the matchday squad for his side's 2-0 loss to Arsenal in a Premier League game at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday evening. 

Edwards hinted at the pre-match press conference that he was going to include a couple of teenagers in the matchday squad just to make up the numbers, given the injuries that have significantly depleted the team.

2024 Super Eagles invitee Gabriel Osho is still out with a knee injury while Super Eagles hopeful Elijah Adebayo may not play again this season after suffering a setback in his recovery from a hamstring injury.

One of the four teenagers that benefited from the absence of key first teamers was Christian Chigozie, who started the season with the Hatters U16s before breaking into the U18 and U23 setup.

When asked about naming Chigozie on the substitutes bench, Edwards said to TNT Sports: "We think highly of him. He's a great lad and we think he has got a big future.

"That shows you where we are at [in terms of injuries]. Four teenagers and two goalkeepers on the bench. Slightly different to Arsenal's bench I think."

Had Chigozie come off the bench, he would have been the second Nigerian player to make an appearance in the Premier League at the age of sixteen, following in the footsteps of Arsenal attacking midfielder Ethan Nwaneri. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

Photo Credit: lutontown.co.uk

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