Luton Town confirm major player blow - it's not good news for Jack Wilshere | OneFootball

Elijah Adebayo has suffered yet another injury setback, just weeks after making his long-awaited return

It's been an incredibly difficult year for Elijah Adebayo, after picking up an ACL injury last April.

The Luton Town frontman, like many in the Hatters squad last year, wasn't living up to expectations last season, after a successful Premier League campaign where he netted double figures, which included a hat-trick against Brighton and Hove Albion.

He scored just five goals in their Championship return, but regardless, he was beginning to be a key part of a great escape attempt at Kenilworth Road under Matt Bloomfield before he was forced off in a 1-1 draw with Leeds United and ruled out for the foreseeable future.

The 28-year-old had to watch from the sidelines as Luton failed to retain their second-tier status, and then also had to miss the majority of the current campaign in League One, too. However, he made his long-awaited return on March 14, late from the bench against Wycombe Wanderers.

Adebayo would then make his home return three days later against Exeter City, but would then be absent from the squad last Saturday against Stockport County.

Elijah Adebayo ruled out for the rest of the season

Unfortunately, that 15-minute cameo against Exeter saw Adebayo pick up a hip injury that required surgery to repair. Luton have confirmed that the 28-year-old is once again set to miss the remainder of the campaign.

It's devastating for both Adebayo and the club itself, as they have been able to see how hard the frontman has worked to recover from arguably the worst injury a player can pick up, only for a new one to sideline him almost immediately after his return.

Luton boss Jack Wilshere, who had his fair share of injury issues during his playing career and retired aged just 30 due in part to them, has empathised with how his striker must be feeling and stressed that the club will continue to support him through this setback.

"I know from personal experience what it's like to suffer injuries so soon after coming back, and it's such bad luck that this has happened when Eli had so much to look forward to with the team over the coming weeks," he said.

"We'll all get around him and support him, as I know he will continue to do for the rest of the lads too, as he's been such a big part of this club's recent history and the positive environment we are trying to build."

Luton Town's play-off hopes have taken a slight hit after Elijah Adebayo injury news

There was no doubt that Adebayo's return to the squad would have given Luton a boost heading into the run-in this season, as the Hatters look to squeeze into the play-offs, of which they are currently five points removed.

Not only would his presence give a lift to those around him, but, despite a poor showing in front of goal last season in the Championship, there's no doubting that the 28-year-old, when fit, would have given Jack Wilshere's side a strong focal point up front, which would have improved their attacking output.

Now, as soon as that was handed back to them, it was taken away, and it's back to square one for the Luton boss, who will need to continue to get a tune out of his current forward options to ensure that their play-off chase resumes after the ongoing international break.

Luton have a slightly more favourable run-in on paper this season, playing just one side currently above them in the table between now and the end of the campaign, alongside an EFL Trophy final against Stockport to contend on April 12, too.