Peterborough United did benefit from football’s lockdown as key player had been added to the club’s injury list

It has emerged that key midfielder Jack Taylor picked up a hamstring injury during the 2-0 win over Portsmouth at the Weston Homes Stadium on March 7 - the last time Posh saw any action.

Taylor would have missed most of the remaining nine League One matches and Posh are still nursing him back to health slowly so he is ready to return should the EFL ever re-start the 2019-20 season.

On-loan forward Sammie Szmodics and first-choice defenders Nathan Thompson and Frankie Kent would also have missed games in March because of injury. Kent is already fully fit, while Szmodics and Thompson are not far away.

“I suppose we did benefit in a way from the stoppage,” Posh manager Darren Ferguson said. “But I’d much rather be talking about winning games in March without those players.

“Jack’s injury was a problem for us. We are still easing him back to full fitness. We don’t have to take any chances with him and we wouldn’t no matter what the situation.

“Sammie and Nathan have stepped up their recovery, They are both running and if we were training together as a first-team group Frankie would be with us.

“The players are all working hard on their own to make sure that if we do resume we are ready. I trust them completely to be following the programmes they’ve been given.”

Posh have missed an away game at Bolton and home matches against Bristol Rovers and Blackpool so far because of the lockdown. They were scheduled to travel to leaders Coventry tomorrow (April 4), but football is currently postponed until April 30 with a further extension likely.