Posh youngsters to get their chance at Doncaster, retained list to be revealed early next week

There is nothing on the game for Posh after they secured automatic promotion last weekend while Hull City were clinching the League One title.

That’s persuaded manager Darren Ferguson to leave out his bigger names in favour of some younger players from the fringes of the squad.

Posh have not trained all week since the mother of all comebacks against Lincoln City secured promotion last Saturday. They are due back to work tomorrow (Friday).

Doncaster have endured a tough season after looking good for promotion at the turn of the year. The hosts will be in celebratory mode though as long-serving club legend James Coppinger is due to retire after the game after more than 600 appearances for the club.

Coppinger played for Doncaster when Ferguson was manager at the Keepmoat Stadium. Ferguson is hoping his team can also honour his former player.

“I will be making wholesale changes,” Ferguson confirmed. “The likes of Ricky-Jade Jones, Ronnie Edwards and Harrison Burrows will start. We’re not going up there to muck about though. We want to put on a performance, but the senior players have put a great shift in all season so they deserve a break.

“I’m just pleased we don’t have to get anything from Doncaster because they have been a big pain in our backside in recent games and they will be keen to make it a big day for James Coppinger.

“And so they should. James is a fantastic lad and a top player. He’s had a great career and I am hoping we can give him a guard of honour before the match.”

Ferguson, the club co-owners and director of football Barry Fry held a Championship planning meeting yesterday (Wednesday).

Ferguson is due to hold one-on-one meetings with his players tomorrow with a retained list expected to be revealed soon after the Doncaster match.