MANAGER Joe Kinnear is ready to go "Christmas shopping" as Luton approach the hectic holiday football programme.

He was well pleased to see his team win at Hartlepool last week, despite being down to ten men for the last half hour, but fears his squad is not strong enough to land the promotion prize he craves.

Centre-half David Bayliss was signed just in time to make a Luton debut at Victoria Park, and impressed when the team came under the cosh following the sending-off of Ian Hillier for his second booking. Two up at the time, Luton conceded, then held out for their sixth away win of the season thanks to a tremendous rearguard action.

Kinnear's worry is that a crippling injury list, with seven players suffering long-term problems, could undermine a promotion challenge. If other results are kind, Luton could regain second place in the table by beating Rushden at Kenilworth Road on Saturday, December 8, but once again they will have to field a weakened side.

Most worrying for Kinnear is the continued absence of leading scorer Carl Griffiths, with a stress fracture of the leg, and the manager has been searching for a replacement in this country and on the continent.

He said: "Even when we had everyone fit, and could put out a very decent starting eleven, I was not satisfied with the strength in depth. Now, with so many players injured, the need for reinforcements is all the greater, and I am confident I can bring in new blood."

There are one or two empty pegs on the dressing room walls after defender Richard Dryden was allowed to go on loan to Scarborough and striker Peter Thomson was loaned to Rushden. Kinnear hopes Thomson will eventually join Rushden permanently, and allowed him to be cup-tied when the Diamonds lost at Brighton last week.

Rushden boss Brian Talbot seems not to be convinced about Thomson, who has been a misfit at Luton ever since Ricky Hill bought him for £100,000 15 months ago. At Rushden, Thomson scored on his debut, but Talbot declined to make a bid when his month's loan was completed although a second month's loan has been agreed.

December 14, 2001 12:00