NATHAN Delfouneso hopes Luton Town will resist the urge to recall wing-back Peter Kioso next month.

Wanderers know they could lose the 21-year-old, who has been a big hit at the UniBol since he arrived in October, scoring three goals in 14 appearances.

Luton boss Nathan Jones has hinted on a couple of occasions that he could bring Kioso back to Kenilworth Road if injuries affect his squad – and that threat will hang over Bolton until the end of the transfer window.

Bolton striker Delfouneso has been impressed with the youngster and believes he has improved as a result of his exposure to regular first team football in League Two.

“I rate him really highly,” he said. “On and off the pitch he’s done brilliantly and I think he’s got a bright future ahead of him.

“Peter is a big player for us and the sooner we get him back in, the better.

“Up and down, defensively and offensively, he has been excellent, getting better all the time. He has everything at his disposal and I hope we can keep him as long as possible.”

Kioso’s three goals include a late equaliser in Wanderers’ last outing at Carlisle on Boxing Day and put him fourth in the club’s top scorer stakes behind Eoin Doyle, Delfouneso and Antoni Sarcevic.

“If you are going to be successful you need people chipping in from all over the pitch,” Delfouneso said. “Don’t get me wrong, the attacking boys are trying to get as many as we can but there’s a better chance of us winning games if others are getting them as well.

“Peter has been one of them. We’re happy we have him and I’d hope he can keep doing that as well.

“I think we’ve got to congratulate George (Thomason) as well on getting his first goal at the weekend. He has come into the team and done really well.”

Delfouneso’s 15-goal partnership with Doyle is an encouraging sign going into the New Year with just over half of the season yet to play.

No Bolton striker has managed to top the 20-goal mark since Michael Ricketts in 2001 but both players look capable of stopping that statistic in its tracks.

“I think the important thing is that we’re both scoring, and if we are doing that the team has a chance of three points,” Delfouneso said. “I am enjoying playing alongside him. I think you can see we’re starting to link up a bit more, combinations are coming together.

“He’s a top player, has an incredible work ethic and off the pitch he’s a top guy.

“If we can keep strong as a partnership there’s no reason why we shouldn’t be getting points.”

Wanderers go into 2021 placed 15th in the table – their lowest league position at the start of a calendar year in their history.

Delfouneso still believes promotion is a possibility but he looks back over the first 20 games and knows performances have been nowhere near the standard required.

“Massively,” he said. “There are too many games where I look back and say ‘we should have done better’ or that ‘this or that shouldn’t have happened.’ “There is probably no player or member of staff who wouldn’t say the same.

“We need to be stronger, better. There’s an element of preparation, there have been signs and patches where we do look the part but it just hasn’t been consistent enough, that’s the biggest word.”