Paul McLaren has a lot of time for Luton Town but fears their days could be numbered.

The City midfielder began his career with the Hatters, making over 200 appearances, so he is heartbroken to see them propping up the league after being hammered with a 30-point penalty before a ball was kicked.

"It's such a shame because Luton are a good little club and I just hope they don't go down," said McLaren while talking to the Telegraph & Argus ahead of Saturday's clash at Valley Parade.

"I have some really good memories from my time there and made some great friends. I'm still good mates now with some of the apprentices I was with there.

"I know Mick Harford from when we were both at Rotherham and he used to flit around the club all the time when I was with Luton. But he's got a really hard job on his hands to get them out of trouble."

McLaren spent seven seasons with Luton after David Pleat handed him a debut as a 17-year-old in May 1994.

He recalled: "It was the last game of the season and I came on as a sub away to Stoke. It was at the Victoria Ground - which makes me sound even older!

"But Luton were a decent Championship-standard side then and a well-run club. There were good people in charge and everything seemed very stable.

"You'd thought they were always comfortable around that level but it only needs a bad couple of years and you can slip down the leagues. That can happen so easily.

"This season is such a big ask for them, although they've started all right. They cannot afford to have a blip in form or it will become really tough. If a few suspensions or injuries kick in, then Luton could struggle."

City's own injury concerns forced McLaren into new territory against Shrewsbury. When TJ Moncur's sickening head injury was followed by Lee Bullock straining his knee ligaments, the silky midfielder was forced into emergency duties at right back.

He said: "I played at the back for Luton a few times when I was younger but that was always in the middle of a three. I'd never been right back before.

"I thought I'd just be doing it for a few minutes while the gaffer made a change but I kept looking over at the bench and nothing was happening.

"After ten minutes or so I realised I must be staying there! But I quite enjoyed it and felt fairly comfortable - and at least they didn't have a nippy winger to get at me."

City need the three points to nip their two-game losing streak in the bud. Other results were kind last week, so little ground was lost, but a powerful response is required to silence a few murmurs of discontent.

The injuries disrupted the gameplan at the ProStar Stadium but McLaren admitted the performance lacked a cutting edge.

He said: "I thought we passed the ball well up to their box but it didn't really happen in the final third. We didn't create anything.

"We spoke before the game and said that good teams shouldn't lose two on the trot. We've done that now, which is disappointing, so we have to get straight back into it.

"We want to stay in the mix up the top, so Saturday is a big game for us."