Recruiting intelligently has been the catalyst of Luton Town's recent success and progression through the divisions, with the Hatters operating in the fifth tier of English football just over eight years ago. 

The Bedfordshire club's comparatively small budget to their second-tier counterparts has forced them to use the free and lower league markets to great effect.

Possessing a recruitment team who have consistently set high standards when it comes to their incomings, it remains to be seen what will happen this summer.

Luton are yet to welcome any new signings to Kenilworth Road, with a couple of areas on the pitch perhaps in need of bolstering, with the goalkeeping department the seeming priority as things stand.

Whilst we wait and see how this summer plays out for the Hatters, here, we switch things up and look at eight of the most underwhelming signings Luton have made in recent times and point out where they are now...

Arriving from Bristol City, and with Robins fans seemingly not too pleased that he was departing, Joe Morrell came with a lot of hype around his name.

The 25-year-old went on to feature just nine times in the Championship during a spell where he found first-team opportunities hard to come by.

Now plying his trade at Portsmouth, it appears that the Welsh international has rediscovered his form, enjoying regular football under Danny Cowley last season.

Sam Nombe was another player signed in the summer of 2020, with the Hatters agreeing a loan move for the forward, which included an option to make the move permanent.

Seeing just 171 minutes of Championship action with the Bedfordshire club, Nombe struggled to make much of an impression, and subsequently, the Hatters opted not to take permanent option.

Joining Exeter City at the start of the 2021/22 campaign, it also appears that Nombe has been able to rediscover from, with the 23-year-old netting 10 times in 32 appearances.

Certainly falling under a more unfortunate bracket here, Eunan O'Kane's injury ultimately disrupted his time in a Luton shirt.

Initially joining on loan during the 2018/19 campaign, O'Kane suffered a double leg break in his third game in for the Hatters, concluding his time with the Hatters.

With Luton going on to win promotion, Jones brought O'Kane back to Kenilworth Road, however, he was unable to feature at all during his second spell.

O'Kane left parent club Leeds United last summer.

Also brought in during the 2018/19 campaign, Alex Baptiste arrived on loan from QPR for the second half of their promotion-winning campaign.

Undoubtedly a good head to bring in within a changing room, he was unable to make much of an impact on the pitch and was confined to just seven league minutes.

Helping Bolton Wanderers to League Two promotion during the 2020/21 campaign, Baptiste was unable to play too much of a part during their return to League One and is currently looking for a new club.

Joining the Hatters ahead of the 2016/17 campaign on a two-year deal, Jordan Cook is one that did see a fair amount of matches during his time with the club.

Despite showing glimpses of promise, he was unable to convince the masses, struggling for a place in the squad during his second year with the club.

Joining Hartlepool United last summer, injuries hindered his progression with the Pools, however, he is currently considering fresh terms by the club.

Stuart Moore joined the Hatters near the end of January in 2017 on loan from Reading, with the goalkeeper featuring eight times in the league as the Hatters secured a play-off spot.

A costly error in the play-off semi-finals at home to Blackpool means that there is a spot for the shot-stopper on this list.

Bizarrely enough, Moore is now plying his trade with the Seasiders, operating as a deputy option for Luton's Championship rivals, with the 28-year-old being restricted to just 28 minutes of Championship action during the 2021/22 season.

Another who saw his progress at Kenilworth Road hindered by injury, central defender Magnus Okuonghae spent the 2015/16 season with the Hatters.

The centre-back turned out just 11 times in the league for Luton that season, with two separate injuries confining him to such little game time.

Now away from football, Okuonghae joined Annapurna as a a specialist HR & Transformation consultant but developed into one of the senior leaders at the company in a short space of time.

Injuries stopping a player's progress has been a key theme in this list, with Brendan Galloway emerging as eighth and final selection.

Arriving from Everton ahead of Luton's return to the Championship, he came with a level expectation around him, especially considering his higher-level experience.

However, he managed just six games in two years with the club, with constant injuries denying him a run in the team.

Now at Plymouth Argyle, he started the campaign excellently, but a further injury in November curtailed his season.