Peterborough United manager wants cup runs as well as a strong promotion push

Posh host League Two side Cheltenham Town in the first round of the Carabao Cup on Saturday (September 5, 3pm) before tackling League One rivals Burton Albion in an EFL Trophy group game at the Weston Homes Stadium on Tuesday (September 8, 7pm).

The first four rounds of the Carabao Cup take place in September, but Ferguson would be happy to play twice a week in the first month of the season.

He is expected to field two different teams in the first two competitive matches of the season.

“We have the squad depth to cope with Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday football,” Ferguson said. “And I would welcome that throughout September as it would mean we’ve started the season well.

“I will probably field two different teams in the first two matches as it’s an ideal opportunity to get another 90 minutes into everyone.

“We haven’t played any competitive football for almost six months so it’s good for us to have two cup matches before we play a League match.

“Obviously promotion is the priority, but winning cup matches brings confidence and momentum and that is never a bad thing.

“Cheltenham will be a tough game though. I like them a lot.

“I watched them plenty of times when I was checking on Ryan Broom and they play good football and they are well organised.

“They play the same system as us and they play it very well so it should be a competitive cup tie.

“The atmosphere is going to be strange for both teams with no fans in the stadium so I was pleased we got to experience it in the friendly last weekend.”

Broom and Mo Eisa are expected to play against their old club on Saturday with the team selected for the Cheltenham game likely to be closer to the side that starts at Accrington Stanley on the opening day of the League One season on September 12.

Eisa could start up top alongside Siriki Dembele as there are concerns about the fitness of new striker Jonson Clarke-Harris.

Ferguson added: “Jonson is a couple of weeks away from full fitness, but we have worked hard with him this week to get him up to speed.

“We came back for pre-season training earlier than most so the other lads are ahead of him.”

Rounds two to four of the Carabao Cup are scheduled for September 15, September 22 and September 29.

Posh also have EFL group matches against Fulham Under 21s at the Weston Homes Stadium on October 6 and at Cambridge United on November 10.