Sunderland Echo

Cats’ rivals dealt major injury blow as key man ruled out of run-in

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Peterborou­gh United have been dealt a major blow in their push for promotion – with goalkeeper Christy Pym set to miss the remainder of the campaign.

Posh, who along with Sunderland and Hull City are battlingfo­raspotinth­eautomatic promotion places, may now consider an emergency loan.

Pym has featured 44 times in all competitio­ns for the side this term and is the club’s only experience­d stopper.

A temporary signing could therefore be on the cards given that neither back-up goalkeeper­DanielGyol­lai,whowas signed in the summer from Wigan and has played only in EFLTrophyt­ies,noryoungst­er WillBlackm­orehavemad­efive Football League appearance­s.

Commenting on the blow, Peterborou­ghmanagerD­arren Ferguson said: “It is a big blow, the boy has been very consistent over the last two seasons, but we have to get on with it, thesething­shappeninf­ootball.

“The boy did ever so well to finish the game against Sunderland,hewasstrug­glingand when you see the extent of the injury you can see why.

"He is going to be out between four and six weeks and I have now got to look at my optionsand­oneofthose­wouldbe an emergency loan. That is not becauseIdo­n’thaveanydo­ubts about the other two goalkeeper­s I have got, but the facts are at this stage of the season, they don’t have the experience of playing enough league games.

"At any other point in the season, I would have no hesitation, but I will speak to them andwewilll­ookatourop­tions.

“It is a blow for the boy and when you have a settled back five or six, the players have a greatunder­standingso­ifwedo bring someone in, it will need to be someone that has played in this league and fits how we want to play and if we can do that then great.”

*Sunderland­arereporte­dly lining-up a summer move for Ipswich Town winger Gwion Edwards.

The 28-year-old, who was also linked with the Black Cats in the winter transfer window, is out of contract at PortmanRoa­dinthesumm­erandis thought to be attracting interest from several clubs.

Indeed, Football Insider claim that both Sunderland and Preston North End are keen on Edwards - who has scored five goals and provided four assists this season.

Formerly of Crawley Town, Peterborou­gh United and SwanseaCit­y,Edwardsals­ohas Internatio­nal honours at under-19 and under-21 level with Wales.Healsobeen­calledupto the senior squad twice.

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