Midfielder Luker, who played in the National League with Woking last season and enjoyed his first steps into senior football, looks to be headed up the football ladder. David Artell has confirmed the Lincolnshire club’s interest in the young player.
The 19-year-old, who came to the Cardinals in January, played for the Surrey team in 17 games and scored twice while helping them to stay in the fifth division. He also made a few appearances during the first part of the Premier League season in Rob Edwards’ matchday selections. Luker, who joined the Hatters on a professional contract in March 2023, has been a regular in the first squad, having flown to Slovenia for the Championship club’s preseason camp and playing 90 minutes in Tuesday’s 3-1 loss to Port Vale.
David Artell hasn’t wasted any time in expressing his expectation that the player will play at a higher level than the Mariners do now in 2019. He also said the team will have done “exceptionally well” to get his services. Following a 2-2 friendly tie with Rotherham United, the Grimsby manager was questioned about the 19-year-old. He said:
We have talked about both the team and the player in question. Given his skill as a player, I believe we’ll succeed greatly if he joins our team. Though we have enquired and are waiting on Luton’s response, I would think he’ll go higher. We aim to have one or two in before the end of the week. We want to add quality players to this team who will help us become better.
Throughout the preseason, Grimsby seemed to lack options in the middle of the park; the club’s lone acquisition in that area is George McEachran, and veteran ball-winner Curtis Thompson is expected to miss the first ten weeks of play.