Big players could be surprise inclusions in the Peterborough United squad to tackle Blackpool

Posh boss Luke Williams has revealed veteran centre-back Tom Lees is keen to play at Bloomfield Road despite suffering many stitches in a leg wound in the Easter Monday draw with Cardiff City.

And Kiwi international Matt Garbett is back in full training. If he comes through a couple of late training sessions he could also be involved on Saturday. Garbett hasn’t played since the January 31 defeat at home to Huddersfield.

Centre forward Harry Leonard and midfielder Ben Woods have suffered no ill effects after their returns to action after long-term injuries, but there is a chance Harley Mills, another to come back recently from a long lay-off, could be rested in favour of Jacob Mendy at left-back.

Chairman Darragh MacAnthony has revealed he wants 35 year-old Lees to stay for another season at Posh.

“Tom Lees is very tough,” Williams said. “He suffered a very nasty cut last week, but by the time I got to see him he was saying he could play.

"It’s true we want Tom to stay next season. He is the sort of player who will significantly help a young group of players, but he also at a different stage of his career and he has a young family. We have to make sure he feels like he will be part of something good.”

Darragh on next season

Posh still have some work to do to make sure they retain their League One status. They have won just one of their last nine League One fixtures, although there was a sign of better things to come with the performance against Cardiff.

Williams added: “We showed we can work extremely hard and get a result against a very strong Cardiff side, but we will need that same attitude at Blackpool. We are not expecting an easy game whatsoever. In fact we know it will be very difficult.

"They have an experienced manager who has enjoyed success and who clearly knows what he’s doing. He will have different ideas and formations in mind and I have no doubt they will be difficult to play against.”