Peterborough United chairman responds to defensive injury issues, but the fans are entitled to be concerned

MacAnthony responded on social media site X to a PT article about three centre-backs, Sam Hughes, Tom O’Connor and George Nevett, all missing the friendly win at Colchester United on Tuesday.

Some fans have aired public concerns about the health of the defensive unit as the League One season looms large.

Injury update

But MacAnthony said: “One is out with a wrist injury for two weeks. Other two are doing their own pre-season to ensure we get a lot of games from them this season. And I’m told, as of last night, both should be available for first League One game of the season, if not the League Cup game.”

Hughes hasn’t played a competitive game since April 30, 2025 because of calf problems, while O’Connor hasn’t played since January 17, 2026 because of a serious hamstring injury. Nevett is on the transfer list, but has played pre-season games while Hughes and O’Connor have been absent.

The first competitive match for Posh is a Carabao Cup tie at Bristol Rovers on Saturday, August 8. Posh open their League One programme at Bradford City on Saturday, August 15.

COMMENT

If Hughes, O’Connor, David Okagbue and Lucca Mendonca are the intended central defenders for next season, Posh fans are entitled to be concerned, even if summer signing Evan Weir can play centrally, in a back three at least according to the journalist who watched him regularly at Walsall.

Tellingly in his interview with the Posh media team while in Spain, MacAnthony mentioned signing a midfielder and a winger, but not another centre-back. Hopefully it was an accidental omission.

That’s not to deny the talents of the four centre-backs who are here. Hughes and O’Connor are fine players with a decent track record at League One level, when fit. They’ve played very well for Posh during difficult seasons.

But if Hughes does start the first League One game it will be 16 months after his last start. The 29 year-old is as strong as an ox, but how can he be expected to perform to his best level without any pre-season games under his belt? Hamstring injuries often recur – just ask Kwame Poku – which will be a cloud over O’Connor.

Okagbue delivered a mixed bag of displays in his first Posh season, but performed best with the experienced Tom Lees alongside him. Mendonca was outstanding on his first Posh start at Stevenage – one of the biggest tests possible in last season’s League One – but didn’t start again until the final day of the season when he was less impressive. He is only 18 though. Another teenager Fabian Claxton, a first-team debutant last season, is still with Posh, but currently injured.

Posh fans are probably worried because they remember last season when their club signed players who weren’t ready to play and who were then forced by injuries to make 20 or so central defensive pair changes during the season. Those changes have often been cited as a major reason for a poor campaign, and justifiably so.

Posh are just over three weeks from a competitive game with key positions still to fill. That could change quickly and I hope it does. Otherwise I doubt the current mood music in the fanbase will change at all.