Peterborough United need a win more than they need to rest players when Barnsley come to London Road

It is a big League One game coming up at home to winless bottom club Doncaster Rovers on Saturday (September 19), but players should be able to cope with three games in eight days at this stage of the season.

Here’s the team I would pick to take on the Tykes, presuming the 4-2-3-1 formation is still in operation and assuming Carl Johnston and Tom O’Connor are not fit enough to return.

GOALKEEPER

Alex Bass: We can get a look at Collin Andeng Ndi when Colchester United visit London Road for an EFL Trophy game the following Tuesday (September 22).

RIGHT-BACK

James Dornelly: He’s the best/only option Posh have in the absence of Johnston.

LEFT-BACK

Harley Mills: Evan Weir’s performance at MK Dons was worrying so Mills, who is not without considerable flaws, has to return. Weir looked slow and weak on Saturday.

CENTRE-BACK

Josh Feeney: The on-loan Aston Villa defender looks a class above the other Posh defenders.

CENTRE-BACK

David Okagbue: It’s a reluctant pick, but as Lucca Mendonca appears to have fallen out of favour, and O’Connor’s body has given way again, the Ireland Under 21 international has to play. He struggled badly alongside Weir in the first half at MK which was disappointing as they must have played together many times for Walsall.

MIDFIELD

Harry Ashfield: I’ve seen enough of the recent recruit to believe he should start, either in Liam Kelly’s role or further forward. It bothers me that Kelly rarely plays 90 minutes and Posh improved when he went off at MK and Ashfield switched to a deeper role. Ashfield showed plenty of positive and skilful moves.

MIDFIELD

Harrison Jones: There could be space for Posh to play against a Barnsley team who are likely to pass the ball about and go forward, rather than sit deep and hoof long balls like MK Dons did. They are conditions made for Jones.

MIDFIELD

Brandon Khela: The athleticism of Khela alongside two beter technical midfielders could be required.

RIGHT WING:

Owura Edwards: Give Bolu Shofowoke a rest and unleash him from the bench in the final quarter. Edwards is our biggest attacking threat in most games, albeit one who struggles to find the right pass and is weirdly reluctant to shoot.

LEFT WING

Ethan Williams: Strange that he wasn’t deployed from the bench at MK. He will be frustrated by that decision and ready to prove the boss wrong.

CENTRE FORWARD

Harry Leonard: I strongly considered Danny Ormerod, but Posh need a win so they need their proven centre forward and goalscorer in the starting XI. Leonard could do with a confidence-boosting goal ahead of the Doncaster clash. Ormerod can start against Colchester.

SUBS

Nine are allowed so….Ormerod, Andeng Ndi, Mendonca, Ben Woods, Kelly, Shofowoke, Weir, Chris Conn-Clarke and Pat Sykut.