Peterborough United stars are ready to shine at Portman Road again

Last season in this fixture Szmodics scored twice and Dembele also netted in a 4-1 Posh win which featured some dazzling attacking play.

And the pair have hit top form as they prepare to tackle the Tractor Boys again with Szmodics scoring four goals in his last two matches and Dembele appearing to shrug off the poor form which accompanied his written transfer request as Posh beat MK Dons 3-0 and Charlton 2-1 at the Weston Homes Stadium.

“It’s obvious when players as good as Siriki and Sammie start playing well, the team improves,” Posh manager Darren Ferguson stated.

“And they have both been very good in the last couple of games. Their performances were hugely important in the two wins and if they carry on with the same intensity and belief they will take some stopping in the second-half of the season.

“Jonson Clarke-Harris just keeps on scoring as well so we have a front three in very good form. They will be a handful for any defence we meet.

“We’ll need them to play well at Ipswich. Ipswich away is always a tough fixture. It’s another hard game against a team near us in the table.

“I’ve watched their win at Burton last weekend and they delivered a solid performance to grind out an important win. “They have suffered a lot of injuries this season, but many players are back now and they’ve been busy in the transfer market this week which could give them a boost.

“But I am getting a good feeling about our form and the mood amongst the players is very positive.

“If we play anywhere near our best we are a very hard team to play against. We will go there confident of playing well and gaining another positive result.”

Posh will be without wideman Joe Ward at Ipswich because of a thigh problem and teenage defender Ronnie Edwards won’t travel after spending much of the last month in self-isolation. Idris Kanu could deputise for Ward at wing-back, unless Ferguson deploys the 4-4-1-1 formation which helped changed the course of Tuesday’s win over Charlton.

Nathan Thompson would play at right-back in that formation with Harrison Burrows starting in one of the wide positions. Reece Brown could also be recalled to the centre of midfield.

Former Posh star Gwion Edwards is one of a handful of Ipswich players to be back in action following injuries. The Tractor Boys signed winger Luke Thomas on loan from Barnsley this week and he could make his debut against Posh.

Preston North End attacking midfielder Josh Harrop is another Ipswich transfer target.