Darragh has found a key reason for failure

Posh chief Darragh MacAnthony has pointed the finger at some poor conditioning and fitness work last summer for some of his club’s woes in the Championship this season.

Speaking on his Hard Truth podcast this week, chairman MacAnthony rattled off a list of players who have suffered long-term absences this season.

He also claimed five players were the ‘red danger zone’ for body fat before the season had started.

“I believe we’ve had 23 injuries this season with 12 of them long-term ones,” MacAnthony said. “We’ve had some bad luck, but it’s also clear the fitness and conditioning work last summer wasn’t good enough.

“I was tearing my hair out when I was getting data saying five of our players were in the red zone for body fat. That’s no way to prepare for the Championship. We also didn’t get to the bottom of the injuries

some players were getting.

“Players were getting Sundays off and then Mondays were used for recovery so basically two days off.

“That will be different now with the professionalism of

Grant McCann and his staff. We have a new sports scientist and physio at his request and they are both highly regarded.”

Among the senior players to have had lengthy lay-offs

this season are Jack Taylor, Jonson Clarke-Harris, Jack Marriott, Mark Beevers, Ricky-Jade Jones and Kwame Poku, while attacking midfielder Joel Randall has barely been seen since signing from

Exeter City for £1 million last summer.

“Grant has a plan in place for Joel for next season,” MacAnthony added. “He’s been meticulous with all his planning.”

Jack Marriott missed months of this season with a hamstring injury

Joel Randall has started one Championship game this season