The former England international spent a fortnight training with the Hatters before last Wednesday signing a short-term contract until January.

After scoring in his second appearance for the Under-21s against Northampton at Hitchin today, the 32-year-old was asked about his initial impression of Rob Edwards’ squad.

“Exactly what I expected,” said Townsend. “A very hard working group, no bad eggs, no bad characters, everyone pulling in the right direction whether you’re playing, on the bench or not in the squad, so that’s definitely good.

“And the games I’ve seen, we’ve deserved better. We’ve created chances and not been able to find the back of the net, so there are definitely positives and hopefully the more that the players get used to being in the Premier League, those games that you’re losing 1-0 will start being 1-1s and 2-1 to Luton.”

Edwards and his assistants Richie Kyle and Paul Trollope were at Top Field this afternoon, along with other first-team coaching staff and directors, as they were when Townsend made his first appearance in the Premier League Cup defeat against Leeds at York City on October 6th.

“The manager’s been great,” he added. “He’s been open and honest. I did a good week’s training initially and he said he just wanted to see me in a game initially, so I went up to Leeds to play in an Under-21s game. It didn’t go well, but thankfully the club still had the faith in me to give me a short-term deal until January.

"Everyone’s been great so far. I’ve been given the opportunity and now it’s down to me over the next two or three months to really take this chance.”

Looking ahead to Saturday’s trip to Nottingham Forest, the man who has over a decade’s worth of top-flight experience with the likes of Tottenham, Newcastle, Crystal Palace and Everton said: “They are all big games. In the Premier League away from home, they are all going to be difficult.

“But I’ve done 60 minutes today and if the manager needs me on the bench, hopefully I can come in for 15-20 minutes and change the game.

“I’m just happy to be here and happy to help whether that be in the dressing room, on the training pitch Monday to Friday, or on a Saturday from the start or on the bench. I’m really looking forward to Saturday and hopefully being involved in a Premier League fixture.”