LATEST NEWS: First-team places at Peterborough United up for grabs under new manager

New manager Steve Evans insists no Peterborough United players are guaranteed a first-team place under his regime.
By The Newsroom
Published 6th Mar 2018, 08:25 BST
Updated 6th Mar 2018, 09:29 BST
New manager Steve Evans greets Posh full-back Lewis Freestone ahead of a training session. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com.New manager Steve Evans greets Posh full-back Lewis Freestone ahead of a training session. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com.
New manager Steve Evans greets Posh full-back Lewis Freestone ahead of a training session. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com.

Evans is a huge fan of star men Jack Marriott, Marcus Maddison and Chris Forrester, but he wants every squad member to think they have a chance of taking part in the club’s League One promotion push.

Posh will stage an in-house practice match today (March 6) involving the entire squad apart from long-term injury victims Gwion Edwards and Alex Penny. Ryan Tafazolli will also miss out, although Evans reports the centre-back is making ‘rapid progress’ from his hamstring injury and is now a 50-50 chance to play in a huge clash between two play-off contenders against Charlton at the ABAX Stadium on Saturday (March 10) - Evans first match in charge.

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Defenders Jack Baldwin and Andrew Hughes will take part. They would have been injury doubts if the Posh match at Shrewsbury had not been postponed on Saturday.

Posh centre-back Ryan Tafazolli (right) is 50-50 to be fit for the big game against Charlton.Posh centre-back Ryan Tafazolli (right) is 50-50 to be fit for the big game against Charlton.
Posh centre-back Ryan Tafazolli (right) is 50-50 to be fit for the big game against Charlton.

“It’s only right that every player starts with a clean slate,” Evans stated. “It’s important they all know that.

“I have inherited a great squad full of ability. You have to look at the likes of Forrester, Maddison and Marriott to see that. They all performed superbly for the previous regime and I need them to do the same for me, otherwise I will have a problem.

“We’re having a game between ourselves today so I can have a closer look, but I’m not ruling anyone in or out of Saturday’s team.

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“To be fair the players have all been excellent in our short time together. We’ve made training more intensive and they’ve all responded.

Posh centre-back Ryan Tafazolli (right) is 50-50 to be fit for the big game against Charlton.Posh centre-back Ryan Tafazolli (right) is 50-50 to be fit for the big game against Charlton.
Posh centre-back Ryan Tafazolli (right) is 50-50 to be fit for the big game against Charlton.

“I can’t wait for Saturday. I will be a very proud man when I step out of the tunnel and I have to thank the Posh fans for making me feel so welcome.

“I was in Tesco’s last night and normally I walk round there with my head down and no-one bothers me. Last night was different with so many people wishing me well.”

Evans has been nominated for the League Two manager-of-the-month award for February for his work at Mansfield Town.

Related topics:Steve EvansPeterborough UnitedMarcus MaddisonLeague One