Premier League already forced to POSTPONE fixtures weeks before start of the new season including historic clash

LUTON fans will have to wait until September to see the Hatters play a Prem game at Kenilworth Road after League chiefs announced their scheduled top-flight home return match is off.

The promoted Bedfordshire side were due to host Burnley on August 19.

But Luton had to undertake £10m-worth of rebuilding work at their tiny home to meet Prem requirements.

And while the club started the work almost immediately after securing promotion with the play-off win over Coventry, the timescale is too tight for League bosses to give a definitive green light.

In a statement, a League spokesperson said: “The Premier League match between Luton Town FC and Burnley FC, scheduled to take place on Saturday 19 August, will now be postponed. 

“Luton Town FC were unable to offer the League and Burnley FC a guarantee that ongoing work to Kenilworth Road would not impact the scheduling of this match at late notice for supporters.”

The news will be a huge blow for Luton fans although it had been expected that the venue might be switched and the game played at Turf Moor instead

That will not now happen and Luton will begin their top flight season with away matches at Brighton and Chelsea either side of their blank weekend.

West Ham are then due to visit Kenilworth Road on Friday September 1.

League bosses also formally confirmed Manchester City’s scheduled home match against Brentford on December 23 is off as the Champions League winners will be playing the Fifa Club World Cup Final in Saudi Arabia.

The statement added: “New fixture dates for both matches will be shared by the Premier League in due course.”