BARKS ’N’ BITE ON THE MENU...

LUTON TOWN manager Rob Edwards insists he has no plans to curb Ross Barkley’s feisty instincts for his grudge clash against Liverpool. Quite the reverse. The Hatters boss is, in fact, demanding that the former Everton star be at his snarling, classiest best for the visit of Jurgen Klopp’s title-chasers. As is the case with so many of the game’s elite players, Barkley, 29, possesses a vital, nasty competitive streak, according to ex-wales international Edwards. Providing it stays on the right side of the football law, he is urging Barkley to utilise that emotion, stemming from a lifelong rivalry with the red half of Merseyside, to ensure he is fully pumped-up this afternoon. Edwards (below), whose troops lost to Aston Villa last weekend, said: “I hope he is. And I’m pretty sure he will be, which is good. “Sometimes these talented players need to be on the edge where they’re really feeling the game. I don’t want to rein that in with Ross... because e it’s exactly this which makes him so brilliant at times. “It’s about getting the balance – that is the key. Of course, we’re going to need 11 players on the pitch. No doubt, that’s obvious! “So we have to be ice-cold at times but also play with that fire inside us as well. We need to show that passion and emotion at the right times.” Barkley appears an astute signing. The one-time England and Chelsea midfielder (below) demonstrated during the 3-1 reverse at Villa Park that his roller-coaster career is very far from being finished. Indeed, it could be approaching something of a high again – if his first full Hatters appearance seven days ago is anything to go by. Edwards, who also snapped up another ex-three Lions star for nothing, in Andros Townsend, is delighted with Barkley’s sudden reemergence on the top-flight scene. He went on: “Ross showed he’s ready to play from the start. “He has been looking stronger and stronger all the time. He’s believing in himself more and more as well. “His performances in the last two weeks, as a substitute at Nottingham Forest and then starting against Aston Villa, were real plusses for us. “Ross has undoubted Premier League quality – and he’s showing that for us now. It’s great.”