Blackpool v Luton Town: Build-up, team news and match updates from Bloomfield Road

The Seasiders have been given a major boost ahead of today’s game against Luton Town.

Chris Maxwell returns to the Blackpool side for the first time in two months, having recovered from a torn quadricep.

The 31-year-old, who suffered the setback in the win against Blackburn Rovers at the start of October, replaces Dan Grimshaw in goal.

Maxwell's return is one of three changes from last weekend’s setback at St Andrew’s, with Ryan Wintle and Jerry Yates also returning to the fold.

It sees Callum Connolly and Gary Madine drop down to the substitute’s bench.

There is a further fitness boost with the return of Richard Keogh to the Blackpool bench after an injury lay-off with a calf strain.

But Oliver Casey (ankle), Luke Garbutt (knee), Kevin Stewart (ankle), Matty Virtue (ACL) and Grant Ward all remain sidelined.

Pool, who are without a win in their last five, face a Hatter side that have picked up just one point from their last four.

“We haven’t won in four, but we should have,” Hatters boss Nathan Jones said.

“We went to Forest and we were excellent. We missed a penalty, and we should have won.

“When I came back here after Covid it was all about results because we had no time to go deeper into things because we had nine games to save our skin. We managed to do that and now we’re evolving and building.

“At times we have to take one or two things on the chin but now is the time where we have to go back and get results now because that is really important.

“The Championship is relentless, it’s constant, you can do amazing things and not get a result and that is the way the league is.

“Blackpool are a good side, they’re a good club, I know first-hand that they’re an excellent club. They are really well run, they have a good structure and a good manager with a good way of playing.

“It’s a really tough game, going away to their place, decent crowd and as we know from our battles at league Two and League One level, it’s a tough place to go.”

“It doesn’t feel like we haven’t won in five.

“I’m not sitting here thinking we’re playing poorly or are on a bad run – we’re not.

“We have played well in a lot of those games. We were good at Birmingham last week and should have taken something from it, and if we keep performing as we have been, I’ve no doubt we will pick up some good results.

“Luton sum up a lot of teams in this division, like we do.

“They are very difficult to play against. They are a high-energy team with athletic players and a good manager doing very well.

“I really like what Nathan Jones has done at Luton and they are establishing themselves as a Championship club.

“They have been through a sticky patch recently but I’ve watched them play and they are a very good side, like every side in this division.”

Could this be the game Chris Maxwell finally makes his return from injury?

The goalkeeper has been sidelined for two months with a torn quadricep he suffered in the win against Blackburn Rovers at the start of October.

Pool’s club captain played in the midweek friendly against Huddersfield Town though and Neil Critchley now has a decision on his hands whether to bring Maxwell back into the starting line-up or keep faith with stand-in keeper Dan Grimshaw, who has performed superbly.

Elsewhere, Richard Keogh could also come back in contention after recovering from a calf strain. He also came through the runout against Huddersfield unscathed.

Oliver Casey (ankle), Luke Garbutt (knee), Kevin Stewart (ankle), Matty Virtue (ACL) and Grant Ward (achilles) all remain sidelined.

The Seasiders play their first game in December this afternoon after a rotten November, results-wise.

Neil Critchley’s men produced some good performances last month but were left empty-handed in terms of wins, enduring five games without a victory.

Nevertheless, Pool’s head coach remains encouraged by his side’s performances and the newly-promoted Seasiders are still well placed in the division, sitting in 11th place after 20 games.

Today’s opponents aren’t enjoying the best of runs at the moment either.

Luton have picked up just one point from their last four games and haven’t won away from home since the middle of October.

Nathan Jones’ men are 15th in the division, two points adrift of Blackpool.

And welcome to today’s live blog.

Blackpool return to Bloomfield Road this afternoon to take on Luton Town, searching for their first win in their last six outings. But the Seasiders remain well placed in the table and their opponents are hardly in the best of form either.

Follow our blog for build-up, team news and live match updates.