Luton eye Arsenal starlet

Luton see Arsenal starlet Joe O'Cearuill as a possible replacement for outgoing central defender Leon Barnett, who is today undergoing a medical at the Hawthorns.

20 yr old centre back O'Cearuill is reported by Luton today as having played for Luton in a behind-closed-doors training match yesterday along with a host of other trialists from France, Norway, Spain, Portugal and Croatia as well as the UK.

Of those 26 yr old winger David Martot Fredrikstad FK striker Øyvind Hoås, 23, ex-Bradford City midfielder Xavier Barrau, 24, and former Newcastle United winger Martin Brittain are said to have been named.

O'Cearuill, an ex-Watford youth prospect is high in the manager's esteem and could be an ideal replacement for Barnett. Whether Arsenal are prepared to sell him or whather a loan deal is in the offing has not been made clear, but having played in pre-season friendlies for the Gunners last year he found himself on loan to Brighton for a couple of months where he played 7 matches plus 3 as substitute during the 2006/7 season.

Blackwell is aware that he is somewhat short defensively and is taking steps to rectify the situation.