REACTION: Ferguson sweating on the fitness of key man Szmodics

The playmaker missed Tuesday night's crucial 1-0 win over Portsmouth at the Weston Homes Stadium, after suffering an injury in training.

Szmodics's place in the team was taken by Harrison Burrows and it was the teenager's vicious inswinging corner that forced Pompey goalkeeper Craig MacGillivray into the mistake that led to what would be the only strike of the game, an own goal from Rasmus Nicolaisen.

Asked about Szmodics' injury, Ferguson said: "Sammie is probably 60-40 against that he will be fit for the weekend.

"But there is four days between now and then so we will see how he recovers.

"However, Harrison came in and did well and so did the other players, Louis Reed (who replaced the suspended Ethan Hamilton) and also Mo Eisa (who came on as a substitute), we are going to need everybody.

“Harrison was probably our most composed player in possession and it was his delivery that led to the goal.

"I think it is probably an own goal, but we will give all the credit to Harrison.

"We haven’t scored enough goals from set-pieces, it is something that we work a lot on so it is nice to get one in this game.

"Harrison has excellent delivery and the first goal was always going to be so crucial in a game like that."

The win over Portsmouth saw second-placed Posh move to within three points of leaders Hull City with two games in hand.

They are also four points clear of third-placed Lincoln City who suffered a second home defeat in a matter of days, losing 3-0 to Gillingham.