Wells was expected to play against the club where he had made a name for himself, scoring 53 goals in 112 games for the Bantams between 2011 and 2014, but he was not on the teamsheets that were announced, and when asked about his absence later, manager Matt Bloomfield said: “Unfortunately Nahki has picked up a minor injury.

It’s not a long or bad one, but it was disappointing for him that he couldn’t come back and play here. We hope he’ll be ready for Tuesday, but we’re not sure. If not, we have high hopes for next Saturday’s match against Cardiff.”

Wells couldn’t hide his disappointment at not having the opportunity to play at Valley Parade again, telling the Bradford Telegraph & Argus: “I’m absolutely devastated to miss the game, that’s for sure. It was the one fixture I was particularly looking forward to.

I haven’t had the chance to return to Valley Parade since I left as a player. I developed a niggle this week. It’s not a bad one, but I’m disappointed – these things happen in football. I’m hoping for a reunion in the second half of the season, when you guys come to Luton.”

With Wells absent, Luton fielded new signing Jerry Yates as the main striker against the Bantams, flanked by midfielders Jordan Clark and Lamine Fanne, a strategy that proved ineffective as Town struggled to create anything meaningful in the opening half.

It wasn’t until forward Lasse Nordas replaced Yates early in the second half, and Luton switched to two up front, that they looked remotely dangerous, eventually pulling one back through Gideon Kodua’s towering header from Cohen Bramall’s cross.

January signing Nordas, who tested home keeper Sam Walker from 20 yards in the dying moments, was playing his first league minutes this season after being chosen ahead of Cauley Woodrow for a bench spot, and Bloomfield explained why:

“It was selection for that one.” I thought Lasse played well on Tuesday at Coventry, and I thought he did well when he came on, so that was the decision.”

Meanwhile, with the transfer window still open until Monday, September 1, and Bloomfield having previously spoken about his efforts to improve his squad’s creativity, when asked if he expected any new additions ahead of kick-off tonight, he responded:

“No, I don’t think so, especially not incomings. There is interest in some of our players, as there has been throughout the window, and we are working to manage that as well as the timing of when we can bring players in.”

“No, I don’t think so, certainly not incomings.

There’s interest in some of our players as there has been for the whole of the window and we’re trying to manage that and the timings of when we can bring players in.”

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