The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
Posh have nothing to lose so they’re preparing to unleash the young guns
Posh are preparing to unleash their young guns on the Championship.
Manager Grant McCann is excited by the potential of the younger players at the Weston Homes Stadium and not just first-team squad regulars Ricky-Jade Jones, Harrison Burrows, Ronnie Edwards and Kwame Poku.
He has been impressed with the under-23 form of hotshot striker Joe Taylor, who made his first-team debut as a substitute in Tuesday’s excellent 1-1 draw at Bournemouth, and lanky central defender Manu Fernandes.
McCann is still commited to trying to keep Posh in the Championship, but he also feels he has nothing to lose by putting his faith in youth.
“We have nothing to lose now,” McCann stated. “We will of course be fighting tooth and nail to try and win every game we play, but there’s also a bigger picture for me so we could see lots more of our younger players as I assess who can help us.
“I like what I’ve seen from Ricky-Jade Jones. I knew him when I was here before, but he’s really filled out physically now and has great potential.
“Ricky is quick and he can finish. I can see him playing on the left in a 4-3-3 or as a striker in a 3-5-2. Modern footballers have to be able to adapt to different positions.
“There is obviously potential in Harrison Burrows and Ronnie Edwards, while Joe Taylor and Manu Fernandes could make a breakthrough this season.”
Taylor (19) has been scoring freely in the club’s under 23 side. He is a fleet-footed striker who finishes well.
When he moved to Posh from King’s Lynn last year, former first-team boss Darren Ferguson described him as one of ‘Darragh MacAnthony’s young gems’ suggesting his chairman was keen on his arrival.
Fernandes (19) is a tall centre-back and former Gillingham youth team player who has also been playing well at under 23 level. He is excellent in possession, but needs to improve his concentration levels.
Fernandes signed a twoyear
contract with Posh in the summer after impressing Ferguson while on trial at the club.
He had most recently been playing for Ramsgate at Isthmian League level.
Posh already boast the
youngest squad in the Championship. Posh sent out a side with an average age of just over 23 to face Manchester City in an FA Cup tie on March 1.
Jorge Grant (27) was the oldest player.
Edwards has started 21
Championship games this season and Burrows has started 20, Poku 6 and Jones one.
Posh have appointed •
Lee Turnbull to a new posistion of Head of Opposition Scouting and Analysis.