Whether that proves to be the case or not is yet to be seen but with that in mind, the Peterborough Telegraph has evaluated the club’s current squad to provide a position-by-position breakdown of the options and how well set the club are to earn an immediate return to the Championship.
9. Left wing- Harrison Burrows, Kwame Poku, Joel Randall
Emergency- Ricky-Jade Jones, Sammie Szmodics, David Ajiboye
COVERED? Maybe. The question is whether Poku and Randall can step up and deliver when called upon. I've seen more from Poku to suggest he will be the one to do so but if Posh can get some confidence into Randall then we could see a whole new player. This is the best position for Burrows, if Clarke-Harris is going to be in the box, Posh need their best crosses swinging balls in. Photo: Joe Dent
10. Right wing- Joe Ward, David Ajoboye, Ricky-Jade Jones
Emergency- Kwame Poku, Sammie Szmodics COVERED?: I suppose. There are bodies to fill the positions and good ones. Joe Ward is a proven League One player. Jones and Ajoboye will hopefully add that X-factor with their pace and dribbling but my main concern and where the goals will come from away from Clarke-Harris and Marriott. There is no one quite like Siriki Dembele for his all round ability and his readymade replacement certainly hasn't turned up wearing a blue shirt yet. Maybe Jones will find his shooting boots. Someone will have to. Photo: Right wing
11. Striker- Jonson Clarke-Harris, Jack Marriott, Ricky-Jade Jones, Joe Taylor
Emergency- Kai Corbett, Sammie Szmodics, Andrew Oluwabori
COVERED?: Not enough. When talking about a fit and motivated Clarke-Harris and Jack Marriott in League One, one word springs to mind, goals. If the two of them stay fit, Posh will be right at the sharp end of the table. If not, then the goals become a worry. Jones, Taylor, Corbett and Oluwabori are all still young and it is yet to be seen whether they are ready to fire a the goals on the consistent basis required for a promotion push. McCann said this week that he doesn't like to bring on like-for-like players from the bench but having no one like Clarke-Harris to bring on late in games to challenge for balls in the air and hold it up cost Posh many times last season. Photo: Joe Dent