CONOR Hourihane is fully aware of the test Luton Town bring tomorrow and he’s looking forward to coming up against another young head coach in Jack Wilshere.

Luton are currently eighth in League One, three points and five places place clear of Barnsley.

The Reds did not play this week and slipped down two places in the table, while they are five points off the play-off places with up to three games in hand on teams around them.

Hourihane said the Luton game will be a big test for his players.

He added: “It’s going to be a test and we’re very respectful of the opposition.

“We know that they’re in a good place.

“They’ve had some good results since Jack Wilshere’s gone in.

“We’ve really got to focus on ourselves and putting in that real good performance that we all know we’re capable of.

“We’ll be fully aware of their strengths.

“They’ve got some pace and power at the top end of the pitch that we’ve got to be aware of and take care of.”

Luton were favourites for the League One title at the start of the season, receiving £39m in parachute payments having suffered back-to-back relegations from the Premier League into the third tier.

But they sacked manager Matt Bloomfield in early October after a record of five wins and five losses from 11 games left them 11th.

He was replaced by Jack Wilshere, the former Arsenal and England midfielder who is in his first managerial role after being in charge of Arsenal under 18s then Norwich on a caretaker basis at the end of last season.

The 32-year-old’s first game was a 2-0 home loss to Mansfield Town which left them 14th.

They had won four in a row in all competitions before being held 0-0 at home to Rotherham United on Saturday.

They have kept the most clean sheets in the division with eight and have not conceded in three having previously won at neighbours Northampton and leaders Stockport who they humbled 3-0.

Hourihane played against Wilshere in a 3-0 loss for Swansea against Bournemouth – and he’s looking forward to coming up against another young head coach.

He said: “Jack was an incredibly talented footballer and played for England for many years and won trophies and whatnot.

“He’ll be focused on his new role and on his new job and I’m always a big advocate for the young head coaches.

“It’s great for him and no doubt he’ll be looking to have a successful campaign from now to the end of the season.”

The Reds won their most recent league game, at Doncaster Rovers a fortnight ago to end a five-match wait for a League One victory.

Barnsley have lost three of their last five home games, not scoring in the defeats to Port Vale, Rotherham and Lincoln in the EFL Trophy last week.

Only leaders Stockport have a better away record this season in League One than the Hatters.

Luton have ex-Barnsley academy graduates Jacob Brown and Jordan Clark plus former captain Mads Andersen.

The clubs have met 65 times with Barnsley winning 28 and losing 27.

They last played in the Championship in the 2021/22 season when the Hatters did the double over the Reds who were relegated.

Luton used to have a poor record at Oakwell, losing 11 and drawing one of 12 visits between 1962 and 2003.

But they have won six of their last eight games there including the last three.