Palmer opted to head to Kenilworth Road in the summer
Hatters boss Jack Wilshere believes the environment created at Kenilworth Road was a major reason behind midfielder Kasey Palmer’s decision to rebuff interest from elsewhere and agree to become a permanent Hatter this summer.
The 29-year-old had a wonderful time of it when arriving on loan from Hull City in January, going on to enjoy the most prolific stint of his career to date, netting eight goals in 21 matches, as it saw the Jamaican international become a massive hit with Town followers, also making it clear he would be extremely interested in moving back to Luton once his time was up.
Although the Hatters were no doubt in pole position to make that happen, his displays and upcoming availability would have definitely alerted the interest of a number of other sides, especially with parent club Hull needing to sell players for profit and sustainability regulations (PSR) after winning promotion to the Premier League.
With that in mind, Wilshere knew there would be other interested parties, but praised Town’s newfound unity since he and his staff took over, in helping to get the deal done, saying: “There’s a lot of big clubs in this league next season that probably saw the influence he had in the league. Everyone did, it was clear for everyone to see, not just with the goals he scored, but his presence in games. So there were probably teams asking the question to him, one hundred percent, that’s the way it works.
“I was always confident because of the conversations we had and I know how much he likes it here, not just working and the way we play, but the fans, the staff around the training ground. From day one he felt like he was part of it and excited to build that even more. I’m really pleased and that’s credit to everyone in the environment. I always think from my time as a player, I always remember the coaches that created an environment that made you feel good as it’s about how you make the players feel.
“We’ve got high standards and demand a lot, but we also understand the players give a lot and we have to show them a lot of love. That’s credit to everyone in the environment, the physios, the medical team, the performance team, literally everyone for showing that love for Kasey and that’s what I’m proud of about what we created and also what I think will attract players in.”
Palmer himself admitted that he didn’t really need any selling from Wilshere when discussing a possible return, as he was quick to point out how important the bonds he had already created with the squad were, continuing: “We spoke, but there wasn’t really anything to sell me, I kind of saw it all myself from last season. It’s different if I wasn’t here last season then he has to kind of tell me the style he wants to play, but I saw it all last season, how effective it can be in the league.
“Once he said that he wanted me to come back, he knew I wanted to come back. We had conversations and to get it done was great. We (Palmer and his team-mates) speak pretty much every other day on Instagram. We’ve got a group chat, so it is a close-knit dressing room. You can feel that with the atmosphere around the training ground straight away. We were training in the off-season, we were seeing each other all the time and speaking, so we never really got time away from each other. To be back and amongst them once again, it is really special.”
Wilshere also believes that adding another player with Palmer’s leadership qualities can only help the Hatters’ ambition of making it out of League One this term, especially after the way they finished the previous campaign, a run of eight wins from 10 games seeing them finish just a point outside of the play-off picture.
He said: “He leads by example and his performances on the pitch. I know the younger players look to him in tough moments as there were so many times where he produced that little bit of magic last season. If teams were getting really aggressive, he has the ability to beat that press, so he leads in a different way, but he’s still a leader.
“It sets the standard because we finished last season on a high in terms of how we were performing and how we were progressing, but also everyone was a little bit deflated because we didn’t quite reach our ambition. There’s question marks, the players came in two days after the season finished, we had some really honest conversations, but everyone leaves with ‘what’s going to happen next year? Who’s coming back?.
“Obviously the Clicker (Jordan Clark) and Walshy (Liam Walsh) situation was there as well, so when players start to see that, they start to see how serious we are. When we talked last season about our ambition, yes we didn’t reach it, but our ambition stays the same this year. We just have to drive towards it even more and it definitely helps when you bring players in that made a big difference last year.”
Finally, Palmer has no questions that Town have the ability to chase their goals this term and make it back into the Championship, adding: “The way we were playing, the style of player and the stuff Jack and the staff were saying to do and implement in the games, we just went on a roll and once you go on a roll, momentum just carries through and if we can start the season like that I’ll be buzzing.
“The season, how we ended it, we should be flying. Without putting too much pressure on the dressing room, we’ve just got to believe in what we’re doing and believe in the staff, which we already do, so we’ve just got to keep on adding to that as I believe in the gaffer and that we can get promoted this season. That’s the reason I’ve come back, that’s what I believe. The style of play, the dressing room, Walshy and Clicker coming back is another factor, hopefully it all works out.
“It was disappointing not to get into the pay-offs as I genuinely believe we would have went up, but we’re here now, it’s a new season and I believe we’ve got enough in the dressing room to do it this year. I think everyone believed, same as me, in the project that Jack is building here. We all believe that this season we’ll be successful, I think that’s why everyone has re-signed quite quickly and not delayed as everyone knows that if we do what we need to do, we’ll be pushing for promotion.”
