The newly promoted Championship team were many people’s relegation favourites when the season started last week but have proved that they are a match for any club in the division.

The exhilaration is shared by fans, players and the manager, Mike Newell, although the mild-mannered Liverpudlian is not getting too carried away with what his team has achieved so far.

Modest as ever in his comments, Newell said: "Although it’s only been one week, expectations are through the roof now after the start we’ve made. We’ve set ourselves high standards.

"My players are working hard for each other and we know it’s going to be a long hard season so we aren’t getting too excited. That will only happen if we are there or thereabouts come March.

"We have surprised a lot of people and if we continue in this vain, we will shock plenty of others before the season ends."

Luton were placed into administration in 2003 with crippling debts so Newell has had limited resources to build a squad. But they still managed to win promotion from League One last season finishing as champions by 12 points.

They stunned Andy Johnson and co at Crystal Palace on the opening day of the season with an unexpected 2-1 win before clinching a last-gasp winner against Harry Redknapp’s Southampton in a 3-2 thriller at Kenilworth Road on Tuesday.

A hard fought 0-0 draw against another of the division’s bigger clubs, Leeds, on Saturday saw Luton top the table – albeit on goal difference. Either way, it is a dream start for everyone involved with the club.

Other contenders for team of the week are West Ham United who returned to the Premiership with an emphatic 3-1 victory over Blackburn and Paul Merson’s Walsall team also came close after they maintained their unbeaten start to their League One campaign.