Peterborough United’s injured players could all be available for the next League One fixture as manager expresses satisfaction with the depth of his squad

One advantage of a 25-day break between matches - Posh last played at MK Dons on December 15 and will not play again until January 9 - is the club’s injured players not missing too many games.

Defender Dan Butler and teenage striker Ricky-Jade Jones can both expect to be included in the squad for the next competitive fixture at League One leaders Lincoln City after fully recovering from their injuries.

Winger Joe Ward should also be fit by then following a knee problem, but might not have trained enough to be considered for selection.

Add those returns to the recent emergence of young players Flynn Clarke, Harrison Burrows and Idris Kanu and Ferguson is confident he has a squad capable of navigating a successful route through regular spells of three games in eight days.

Ferguson insists any transfer activity in January to boost the squad further will be ‘minimal.’

Posh have been batting away interest in their younger players for the last couple of months.

“It’s going to be a survival of the fittest in the second-half of the season,” Ferguson admitted. “League One is so tight and I’m happy we haven’t really lost ground while we haven’t been playing.

“Big, strong squads are going to be vital and I am happy with the strength and size of ours.

“We should have a fully fit squad to choose from when we go to Lincoln. Dan Butler and young Ricky will definitely be available. Joe Ward will be fit, but we might not have been able to get enough work into him before that game.

“We’ve missed Ricky. We’ve missed that pace which helps us turn opponents late in games and we’ve missed his pressing of defenders.

“And the way the younger players performed in our last two games was very encouraging. Flynn Clarke, Harrison Burrows and Idris Khan showed they will not just cope with League One level they will thrive. Idris was particularly impressive in the two games.

“We might do some business in January, but if we do it will be minimal, just one in and one out maybe.”

Posh are currently fifth in League One, just three points off the second automatic promotion place.