Townsend tells talkSPORT touching reason why he has changed his name at Luton

The 32-year-old has impressed at Luton Town after signing a short-term contract until January at the Hatters last month.

Townsend made 264 Premier League outings with that exact surname on his shirt during spells at Tottenham, Newcastle, Crystal Palace, and Everton.

However, the winger spent 18 months out of the game after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury in March 2022, which led to the Toffees releasing him this summer.

Newly-promoted Luton called on his experience three months into their return to the Premier League, with Townsend making his debut in the club's 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest.

The Hatter's No 30 surprisingly had 'Townsend Sr.' printed on his shirt, with the Premier League permitting him to make the change.

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Why does Townsend have 'Sr' on his Luton shirt?

The former England international explained to talkSPORT that he changed his name to distinguish himself from his four-year-old son.

Towsend Sr. is hopeful his son will follow in his footsteps in which case he can have Townsend Jr. on the back of shirt, ala Neymar Jr.

He told The Sports Breakfast: "It's simple really, my son is Andros Townsend Jr. I changed my name by deed poll to Andros Townsend Sr. when he was born.

"I had a couple of years out of the game so it was only natural that I come back and honour my son and I changed my name to suit my new name.

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"Hopefully one day when my boys in the Premier League running around on the wing, he can have Townsend Jr. on his shirt and it will all make sense."

Townsend's touching plan may all be in vain, however, with the man himself admitting that his son is not yet interested in becoming the next hero at Kenilworth Road.

Asked if he's playing yet, Townsend admitted: "He's got absolutely zero interest in the [football] world.

"I take him to training but he just wants to run around and fight with his sister and jump up and down and do usual stuff four-year-olds wanna do!"

Still work to do on 'Project Townsend' then...