Cameron Jerome gives his insight into key player’s development at Luton Town | OneFootball

Elijah Adebayo has been one of the breakout stars of the EFL this season and could be the subject of some transfer interest this summer.

The 24-year-old signed for Luton Town in January 2021 without a big reputation, following a modest goal return in League Two with Walsall.

However, Adebayo has come on leaps and bounds in the last season and a half, chipping in with 17 goals in all competitions this term, the most prolific campaign of his career to date.

Adebayo’s improvement has been facilitated by the positive environment created at Luton under Nathan Jones.

Experienced pro for the Hatters, Cameron Jerome, explained why Adebayo has improved so much in such a short space of time when he appeared on 72+.

He said: “Football is a cycle, when you start off as a younger player, you’re always looking to the older experienced players to guide you and help you and almost shape the beginning of your career, and Elijah’s no different.

“He’s a really good kid, really professional, he’s willing to learn and work hard and improve his craft.

“There’s a few experienced members of staff at Luton, Mick Harford is there and obviously the gaffer, Chrissy Cohen, people like that, so there’s a lot of people who’ve put a lot of work into him and that’s testament to himself as a character.

“He just wants to improve as a player and keep striving forward.

“There are bits and pieces that he can pick up off me, in the meantime, he’s asked one or two things, but he’s got that mentality where he’ll go out and do extra sessions on his own, even without anyone telling him, it’s refreshing to see a young player with such a good attitude and outlook on the game.”

The Hatters are going to be a very interesting team to observe in the upcoming transfer window and 2022/23, to see if they can go one better and if Adebayo’s rapid rate of improvement continues.

The Verdict

Quiz: Can you name which club Luton Town sold these 16 players to from the last decade?

1 of 16

Who did Luton sell James Justin to?

Leicester City Wolves Aston Villa Sheffield United

It was such a shame that Adebayo was unable to play more than a handful of minutes in the club’s semi final tie against Huddersfield Town.

Harry Cornick and Jerome performed admirably in his absence, and the Hatters were unfortunate not to have been leading before Jordan Rhodes won the tie late on in the second leg.

Adebayo has two years left on his contract at Luton, with the club reserving an option to extend it by a further year at the end of the 2023/24 season, therefore, financially they are in a very strong position this summer, should interest arise.

It feels like Adebayo’s stock was slightly higher in the January transfer window and for that reason it seems more likely than not that he stays put.