The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
Posh boss is relaxed about having no fit strikers to take on Bees at the Hive
Posh manager Darren Ferguson refuses to panic even though he could have no recognised striker available for Saturday’s ‘double header’ friendly at Barnet.
Last season’s top scorer Jonson Clarke-Harris (calf ) and summer signing Jack Marriott (knee) will both definitely miss the games at the Hive because of injury and teenager Ricky-Jade Jones is also a doubt because of a knee complaint that isn’t thought to be serious.
And with Mo Eisa sold to MK Dons this week (see page 111), Posh could be forced to play Siriki Dembele or Idris Kanu as a lone striker at Barnet. There are currently no plans to recruit another striker.
Clarke-Harris is scheduled to return for 45 minutes at Oxford United next Tuesday (July 27) with Marriott expected back for the trip to Portsmouth on July 31, just seven days before the Championship opener at Luton Town.
Neither player is expected to be fit enough to play 90 minutes at Kenilworth Road.
“I might have to play up front myself at Barnet,” Ferguson joked. “But seriously Ricky could be okay by then and if he’s not we will just have to cope with under 23s, or even young trialists we currently have at the club, stepping up.
“We will only be playing one-up at Barnet and we have Siriki and Idris who could do a job. I’m not overly concerned by the situation as it’s a long season.
“I expect Jonno and Jack to be available for Luton, but probably not to play 90 minutes.
“We also have the King’s Lynn game on August 3 in case we need to get extra minutes into anyone.”
Ferguson will deploy a back four in the two games at Barnet after using a back three exclusively so far this summer, including in last Saturday’s 6-1 defeat at a star-studded Chelsea side.
“We will take loads from the Chelsea match,” Ferguson added. “The first-half performance was very good and we caused them no end of issues. We moved the ball well and kept it well against some top players
“We struggled a bit in the second half , but we have to remember we were playing against players at the top of their profession.
“We didn’t do the basics well enough in the second half, but as long as we learn from our mistakes I’ll be happy.
“We will use a back four at Barnet. We need to see how that works and we need to work on our shape in front of the defence.
“I’d also like ro see some progress in Jorge Grant and Jack Taylor’s relationship in midfield. It’s important we get these partnerships up and running before we start the Championship matches.
“It’s been a good start to the summer for us overall. We had an in house game on Tuesday which went well.
“It was competitive and there were a few tackles flying in, but the lads looked fit and sharp.
“The spirit witin the group looks really good. They can’t wait to get started properly.”
Posh will play Barnet in two matches kicking off at 2pm and 4pm. Both games will be played over 75 minutes (45 plus 30).
Posh are at Oxford United on Tuesday when they will play two 90-minute matches side-by-side at the host club’s training ground behind closed doors (5pm start).
Posh are likely to send a team made up of under 23 players to tackle Gaby Zakuani’s Spalding United on Wednesday (July 28, 7.30pm).