Peterborough United boss convinced his side can cope without their star striker
First-team boss Luke Williams is convinced Peterborough United can cope without star striker Harry Leonard.
Leonard had a hernia operation earlier this week and is now set to miss at least a month of matches. Williams will now have to play either on-loan Chelsea man JJ Morgan or rookie strikers David Kamara or Pemi Aderoju up front, while his top scorer is absent, unless he changes his preferred playing formation.
Morgan will be the favourite to start up front in the next Posh League One match at Leyton Orient on Saturday, March 14, especially as Kiwi international Matt Garbett is expected to return from his foot injury for the trip to Brisbane Road. Garbett could replace Morgan in a role just behind a sole striker.
Posh have no game this weekend as scheduled opponents Port Vale are in FA Cup fifth round action.
Williams said: “One of the beautiful things about managing this club is the incredible conveyor belt of talent we have. We have Pemi and David waiting to step up and take their opportunity and of course we have JJ who was signed as a striker.
"It also helps having a player as good as Matt Garbet coming back. He is a very gifted player who can star in a second attacking line.”
Left-backs Harley Mills and Jacob Mendy could also be back in the matchday squad for the trip to Orient after spells on the sidelines because of injury. The manager also updated fans on the progress of Sam Hughes and Ben Woods.
Williams added: “Jacob is back training and he’s looked very good. He looks in good shape. Harley’s reaction to what can be a devastating injury has been outstanding. His recovery has been a gold standard in coming back from that type of injury.
“Harley and Sam have been training hard together. Sam has had difficulties at certain stages of his recovery. He’s really close now, but will need minutes in a reserve game and many more training minutes, but he will have the enthusiasm to overcome any lingering discomfort. He’s a powerful man and it will be great to have him back.
“It’s taken Ben longer to get back than we expected, but he had a setback. We can now see the light at the end of the tunnel with him now though.”