Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE international midfielder, Marvelous Nakamba, has widened the gap on the English Premier League tackles chart after seven weeks of the 2023-24 season for Luton Town.
A rearranged Tuesday clash between Luton and Burnley brought all teams to seven games and Nakamba sits top of the charts for tackles, having made 31 in a holding role for the Hatters.
He made five tackles in the 1-2 defeat at home to Burnley, who celebrated their first win of the season.
Nakamba is followed by Tottenham Hotspur’s Malian midfielder Yves Bissouma on 25, Brazilian Lucas Paqueta of West Ham (23), Jamaican Amari’I Bell of Luton (22), Portuguese Nelson Semedo of Wolves (22), Brazilian Vinicius Souza of Sheffield United (22) and Italian Destiny Udogie of Tottenham (22).
Collectively Luton Town have made 127 tackles, joint seventh with Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest while Crystal Palace lead with 142 while Tottenham are second with 140, West Ham and Wolves tied on 135, Everton on 134 and Manchester United sixth on 131.
At this stage of the season, Nakamba accounts for 24.4 percent of the Luton tackles and together with Bell, they have made 41.7 percent of the club’s tackles so far this season.
In his other defensive contribution, Nakamba has made seven interceptions from seven matches which puts him joint 34th, behind Malian Cheick Doucoure of Crystal Palace with 16.
Nakamba has made three blocks, which puts him 55th behind Moroccan Nayef Aguerd of West Ham with 13.
The former Aston Villa midfielder has started in all seven matches for Luton in his first Premiership season with them after securing a permanent move at the conclusion of the 2022/23 season.
He had a terrible 2022/23 season at Aston Villa where he never featured for them in the league before securing a loan move to Luton, who were then in the Championship.
In terms of appearances, Nakamba’s best campaign was in 2019-20 as he made 29 appearances, 10 of them as a substitute, on his debut English Premiership season.
The appearances dropped drastically to 13 in the 2020/21 season and 16 in the 2021-22 season.
Barring injury, Nakamba is set for his highest appearances in an English Premier League season having impressed the Luton coaches and supporters.