Manager insists Peterborough United is a very happy camp

Posh have fielded just 19 different players in League One matches this term. Only Walsall (17) have used fewer.

But Evans is out on his own by naming the same starting line-up in seven of those matches. The only change to his starting line-up took place at Southend a fortnight ago when Jamie Walker played instead of Joe Ward.

Even £600k striker Ivan Toney and mercurial winger Marcus Maddison have yet to start a League One match.

“Historically when I have had success at a club I have picked seven or eight players in virtually every game.

“Obviously that’s not always possible, but so far this season we have been winning games and playing well, and we haven’t suffered any injuries apart from the one to Callum Cooke that kept him out for a week.

“Why would I change anything when things are going that well? It wouldn’t make a lot of sense and the players currently not in the side accept that.

“No-one is getting down. They know they will force their way into the side by impressing me every time they step onto the training pitch, but in my mind those out of the side have to do better than those currently in it. I don’t leave players out after one poor game.

“I feel fortunate to have players as good as Maddison and Toney pushing hard for a place and don’t forget the likes of George Cooper and Louis Reed who would walk into most teams in League One.

“Consistency in selection is important to me, but I don’t have favourites. Form is all that concerns me and we have several individuals who have been playing very well this season.”

Those restricted to substitute appearances so far in League One are Cooke, Cooper, Maddison, Reed. Matt Stevens, Toney and Josh Yorwerth. Stevens has since joined Slough Town on loan and scored a hat-trick for them last weekend.

Summer signings winger Isaac Buckley-Ricketts and full-backs Darren Lyon and Tyler Denton have yet to make a League One appearance.

Central defender Ryan Tafazolli is the only player to have played in every minute of every Posh game this season.

He said: “It’s a different club this season. We all know our jobs and what the manager expects from us. He has high standards.”