New boys aim to help Luton out of 'sticky situation'
Being part of a relegation battle is likely, you would assume, to give some players sleepless nights.
But not so Thelo Aasgaard and Kal Naismith, who joined Luton Town during the winter transfer window.
The Hatters are next to bottom of the Championship, after being relegated from the Premier League last season, but former Wigan forward Aasgaard underplays any concerns, simply describing it as a "sticky situation".
And as for Naismith, returning to the club he helped reach the second-tier play-offs in 2022 just "feels right".
He told BBC Look East: "It's strange because the atmosphere the staff and players have created, it didn't feel that I was coming into a club that was down or low in confidence.
"The staff are bubbly and positive, and that's so important now and in the months ahead. It's important that when you come into your work every day it's a good environment, and it certainly feels like that.
"We know the challenge ahead. The Championship is a really unforgiving league - every match is tough - but we've got each other's backs and we're looking forward to it."
Bloomfield still looking for first win
Things have certainly not gone to plan at Kenilworth Road this season.
Last summer, former manager Rob Edwards expressed confidence that he had a squad with the quality to challenge again at the top of the table, having guided them to promotion in 2023.
But a run of 10 successive away defeats led to his departure on 9 January, and five days later Matt Bloomfield was appointed, leaving League One promotion hopefuls Wycombe to oversee the Luton rescue mission.
Change has been rapid since then with five players signed, including Aasgaard, for an undisclosed fee from Wigan Athletic, and Naismith, on loan from Bristol City, with two going out on loan.
But results have yet to pick up, with two draws and two defeats in their past four games - though their depressing run on the road was ended with a point against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough.
Luton are away from home again on Wednesday evening when they make the trip to fourth-placed Sunderland, who are unbeaten at home and have not lost in their past seven games, winning four.
But Aasgaard believes previous experiences with Wigan, for whom he scored in a 2-1 Championship win against Luton in September 2022, will help him adjust quickly after stepping up a division.
He played 87 minutes against Sheffield Wednesday on his debut, and told BBC Look East during a school visit for Children's Mental Health Week: "I hope I can bring some quality on the pitch, and try and be a leader in my own way.
"I want to take my skillset into the squad and help us get out of a sticky situation. There's a lot of quality in the changing room - I have no doubt we'll do that."
The 22-year-old added: "I have had quite a few seasons at Wigan when things didn't go right - my first professional season there was a tough one, but I feel I can thrive in these pressured situations.
"That's when you find out who's got the mental strength, and I like to think I can come through that and help my team-mates as well."
Luton 'the right place' for Naismith
Bloomfield had a close-up view of Aasgaard's ability when Wycombe played at Wigan in November, and regards him as "technically very, very good".
He is also impressed by the Norwegian's versatility, and said on signing him: "Thelo can play as a 10 but can play as an eight or on the left, so he's adept at playing in a variety of positions."
The Luton manager has an equally high regard of Naismith, who is 10 years Aasgaard's senior, and replaced his new team-mate for the final few minutes at Hillsborough this month - his first game since early November.
He will have the task of helping shore up a defence that has conceded 49 league goals, the fourth-highest total in the Championship - only Plymouth (63), Portsmouth (54) and Cardiff (51) have let in more.
But Naismith, who began his career in Scotland with Rangers, is just happy to be back despite the circumstances.
"It feels amazing. That first day driving back through the gates again, it felt calm - the right place," he said.
"I knew it was the right place for me the first time. Life took me on a different route, I never make things easy for myself, but I am just so grateful to get a second chance.
"I was worried and there are lots of emotions and nerves about coming back and how it would be, but everyone has been so welcoming - it feels right."
Following the Sunderland game, Luton have two at home against Sheffield United and Plymouth, then the M1 derby at Watford on 23 February - a match which could be crucial to their survival hopes.
"They're the games you want to be involved in; they're the games in which to showcase your talents," said Aasgaard.
"I think we'll be in a really strong place by then. There's a lot of new signings but I feel we've gelled together really well."
