Peterborough United set to name a strong side for the EFL Trophy tie with Portsmouth

Posh played their first competitive match for 25 days when gaining a creditable 1-1 draw at Lincoln City on Saturday and he wants his first-choice regulars to get some ‘rhythm’ back into their play ahead of a hectic run of League One matches.

Joe Ward will play 45 minutes on his return from injury, but the youngsters, like Flynn Clarke and Benjamin Mensah, who normally feature in a Trophy matchday squad will be held back for tomorrow’s third round FA Youth Cup tie against Doncaster at the club’s training ground (2pm kick off).

Seventeen year-old defensive prospect Ronnie Edwards will miss both matches thanks to a Covid-related bout of self isolation.

Portsmouth are expected to make many changes from the team that lost 2-1 at Championship side Bristol City in an FA Cup tie on Sunday.

“We need to get some rhythm into the players again after a long time without a game,” Ferguson stated. “So it will be a stronger-looking side than I normally play. We need to get the players back up to speed as quickly as possible.

“I felt out fitness was good at Lincoln, especially when we played almost 30 minutes with 10 men, but it certainly helps when you are able to make five subs as we did.

“This is a competition both us and Portsmouth always take seriously. It’s a competition we want to win. We took a lot out of our previous round win over West Ham as we carried some good form into our next League One match and I’d hope for the same again.

“As they played on Sunday, Portsmouth could have asked for the game to be moved back to Wednesday, but they didn’t which makes me think they intend to make full use of their squad over the two matches. Mind you their squad is very deep. The players who didn’t play at Bristol are all good ones so it should be a decent match between two of the biggest clubs left in the competition.

“We’re treating this is as a big game.”

Central defender Nathan Thompson can play against his old club despite a red card at Lincoln. The one-game ban will keep him out of Saturday’s home League One match with MK Dons (January 16).