Nathan knows the time is now right for Peterborough United

And the experienced defender believes this could be the season he finally finds that elusive promotion to the Championship.

Thompson was skipper of the gifted Swindon side that lost heavily to Preston in the 2015 League One play-off final and was a key man in the Portsmouth side beaten in the third tier play-off semi-final by Sunderland in 2019.

The 29 year-old counts last season with Posh as a near-miss as well, but he believes his current club is better equipped to bounce back from intense disappointment.

“Sometimes when you miss out on a promotion the team breaks up,” Thompson said. “The vultures are always circling. That’s what happened at Swindon. We had a great side, but within two seasons we’d been relegated.

“It’s encouarging to see that we have stayed strong. Of course we have lost Ivan Toney who was a very special player, but we’ve replaced him with a very good striker in Jonson Clarke-Harris.

“I’ve played against Jonson a few times and when you saw him in the opposition line-up you knew you were in for a tough battle. He’s quick and very strong.

“When you have that and the skills and speed of Siriki Dembele we should still be able to cause lots of teams problems.”

Thompson looks set to start on the right side of a back three. He played most of his Posh football as a right-back last season in what turned out to be a frustrating personal campaign.

Thompson left Portsmouth at the end of the 2018-29 season and didn’t sign for Posh until the middle of August so he was always playing catch-up with his fitness.

“A proper pre-season is so important,” Thompson added. “Last season turned out to be really frustrating as I picked up so many niggly little injuries as well as injuries I’d never had before.

“I only ended up playing about 15 matches and I put that down to missing pre-season, but I’ve trained well this summer and I feel really fit.

“I’m comfortable in any position along the back four. I like to get on the ball and start attacks from the back which is how this team to play.

“I’m confident we can have a good season and I sense that confidence is right there throughout the squad. We were disappointed with the way last season ended, but we can’t dwell on that any more.

“It’s going to be strange playing the start of the season without fans, but hopefully that will change quite quickly.

“It’s going to be disappointing to be going to Sunderland at the end of September for instance and play the game behind closed doors.

“There’d be 30,000 for that game, but it’s a case of being professional and getting on with things. We’re all just happy to be playing again.”

Thompson has been appointed vice-captain for this season, a position he will relish.

“There is a lot of talent in this squad, but a lot of them are very young,” Thompson said. “I’d like to think I would show some leadership on the pitch even without being vice-captain, but I was pleased to accept the role.

“I captained Swindon when I was 23/24.”