Peterborough United’s potential signings have to pass the ‘Darragh test’ before a deal is completed

There is also heavy input from data analaysts, while a checklist put together by club co-owner Darragh MacAnthony must be satisfied before a bid is made.

“There are nine points on my checklist and players have to score 7/10 on all of them,” MacAnthony revealed. “It’s something I put together a while ago and I still use it.

“Before we sign a player we tend to watch them live four times and online twice.

“Barry Fry (director of football) and the manager will go and watch the player by which time we know all about his background.

“There is a lot of data analysis involved. There’s a fair bit of science as well.

“There is no perfect science, but it’s vital to have a good instinct and to be brave enough to take a risk.

“It’s very rare we take a punt without using our very thorough checks.”

Posh have signed goalkeeper Dan Gyollai, teenage centre-back Ronnie Edwards and midfielder Ethan Hamilton so far this summer.