Peterborough United manager will find a way to win with a depleted squad at Fleetwood Town

Posh will definitely be without star striker Ivan Toney and key centre-back Frankie Kent.

And Ferguson is sweating on the availability of on-loan attacker Sammie Szmodics who picked up a dead leg in the opening moments of Tuesday’s (February 11) 4-0 win over Southend.

Mo Eisa is favourite to replace Toney even though he hasn’t scored since early December while Niall Mason or Rhys Bennett will deputise for Kent.

Defender Nathan Thompson is expected to return to the Posh starting line-up after serving a one-match ban.

Ferguson could also field a funky formation involving a false number nine and an extra midfielder, the latter would most probably be Josh Knight.

“Obviously we don’t want to be missing any key players, but I have a good squad so I have good options,” Ferguson stated.

“I started thinking about the Fleetwood game before the Southend match had finished and that’s why I sent Mo on for Ivan.

“Obviously we have no-one with Ivan’s physicality. There’s not really a player in League One who could properly replace him, but we will find a way to get the job done.

“It would be a tough enough game with Ivan.

“Fleetwood showed when they beat us on the opening day of the season what a good side they are.

“Like us they had a bit of a blip, but they have picked up again now and I have no doubts they will be there or thereabouts with us at the end of the season.

“They have some good experienced players.”

Fleetwood striker Ched Evans will miss the match after picking up his side’s first red card of the season at Wycombe on Tuesday.

Fleetwood manager Joey Barton will join Evans in the stands as he was also sent off on the same game.