The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
Free-scoring striker has to stay patient
Free-scoring Peterborough United striker Matty Stevens has been told to stay patient as he strives to force his way into the first-team.
Stevens bagged his 23rd goal of the campaign as Posh Reserves went down 5-2 at Forest Green on Tuesday.
It’s a terrific record for the 21 year-old who has also scored freely on his most recent loan spells at Kettering and Slough.
Stevens is active on social media where he has a vociferous fanbase, something firstteam boss Darren Ferguson has acknowledged.
“Matty has done all we have asked of him,” Ferguson stated. “He seems to score every time he plays which is a good habit to have.
“But time is on his side as he recently signed a new contract.
“He must therefore stay patient because if we keep playing our current system he has to get past two very good players in Ivan Toney and Matt Godden to get in.
“We are only playing one out-and-out-striker at the moment and that is Matty’s position.”
Stevens fired Posh into an early lead at Forest Green, but the hosts eventually over-powered an inexperienced side. Morgan Penfold claimed the other Posh goal.
Stevens signed a contract extension earlier this year keeping him at Posh until 2021.
His presence on the Posh substitutes’ bench every week satisfies the Football League rule of one homegrown player in a matchday squad.
Posh have released all their second-year under 18 scholars from this season with the exception of midfielders Harrison Burrows and Kyle Barker who have both earned professional deals.
Included among those to be released are assistant manager Gavin Strachan’s son Luke. Others to leave are Jack Gurney, Oli Shackleton, Fraser Garner, Harry Brookes and Rio Douglas.
They all played a part in a decent run to the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup and a second-placed finish in the Youth Alliance East Division.
Posh have been fielding a younger team in the Merit One League and they again performed well last weekend when drawing 3-3 with Luton despite playing the entire second-half with 10 men.
Ricky Jade-Jones, Brad Rolt and Shaun Keane scored for a team that included three under 15 players.
Posh Academy staff have been given a target of producing three first-team standard players every season by the year 2024.
■ Posh chairman Darragh MacAnthony and first-team boss Darren Ferguson are attending a q & a with the club’s fans at Ebeneezers Social Club on Grove Street, Woodston tonight (Thursday, 7.30pm).
The night has been organised by the Peterborough Independent Supporters Association.