Marvelous Nakamba has been in ‘absolutely brilliant’ form since joining Luton Town on loan from Premier League outfit Aston Villa during the January transfer window.
That is according to Hatters defender Tom Lockyer; promotion-chasing Luton dreaming of top-flight football after completing one of the most inspired acquisitions in recent Championship history.
It was easy to forget, as Nakamba twiddled his thumbs on the Villa Park bench, that this was a 26-cap international with a proven track record in the Champions League. A man who once arrived at Aston Villa for a cool £11 million from Belgian giants Club Brugge.
Since dropping down to the division below, Nakamba has looked like a man on a field of boys. Luton have conceded only twice from open play during the Zimbabwean’s 11 appearances. What’s more, no one in Rob Edwards’ squad comes close to matching his average of 4.1 successful tackles per game (WhoScored)
Aston Villa’s Marvelous Nakamba is shining on loan at Luton Town
“He’s brilliant isn’t he. He’s absolutely brilliant,” Lockyer beams in conversation with Luton Today.
“(Nakamba) has been fantastic. He’s such a nice guy off the pitch and then, on the pitch, I just need to tell him where I want him, keep talking to him – ‘left or right, go here, press here, do this’ – and then just let him go.
“And when he does go, it’s brilliant to see.
“He just tackles anything in sight. He has been one hell of a signing. I’m not sure who got him in in January, but I’d give them a little bottle of red or something as it makes my job a lot easier!”
Nakamba was reportedly a target for Aston Villa’s Midland neighbours West Brom too. The Baggies are now five points away from the play-offs, and 11 adrift of fourth-place Luton.
West Brom’s loss, then, is undoubtedly Edwards’ gain; the Hatters boss labelling his new talisman Marvelous by name and ‘marvellous’ by nature.
“He’s like a Duracell battery,” the former Watford boss said after a typically tenacious Nakamba display against Coventry City. “He just kept going and going and going and going and going.
“I thought he was outstanding. (Nakamba) covers the pitch so well, smells the danger and then he’s really calm with the ball. I’m delighted with him.”
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