Peterborough United manager protects his first-team squad from a trip to Leek

Two-goal Matt Godden in action against Scunthorpe. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com.

Posh will send a full youth team to play against Stoke City in a Premier League Under 23 Cup tie at Leek Town FC tonight (October 15) as manager Steve Evans protects his players ahead of matches against Accrington Stanley (October 20) and Fleetwood (October 23) at the ABAX Stadium.

Posh consolidated second place in League One with a battling 2-0 win at Scunthorpe on Saturday as striker Matt Godden scored both goals againt his former club. That was a sixth away win of the season for Posh, one more than they managed in the whole of the last League One season.

“Accrington and Fleetwood are having excellent seasons,” Evans said. “We will need the whole squad fit and firing to get the results we want, and need, in the enxt two fixtures.

“I don’t want senior players getting back from Leek in the early hours of the morning so we will send the youth team for what will be a good test for them.

“We are planning two training sessions for the first-team players today and then we will have a practice match between ourselves tomorrow. We can control that environment.

“Most of the first-team squad players have had good minutes now.”

Marcus Maddison and Josh Yorwerth are due back in training today after missing Saturday’s win because of illness.