Peterborough United owner Darragh MacAnthony issues an important injury update ahead of the Poshs’ League One clash away at Shrewsbury Town this Saturday.
Peterborough have not started their 2024/25 campaign as hoped, suffering a defeat against Huddersfield Town in their season opener, followed by another loss to newly-promoted Championship side Oxford United in the Carabao Cup. This may be down to the amount of injuries Darren Ferguson has had to deal with so far, a massive contrast to the club’s fortunes last season. Hector Kyprianou, Rio Adebisi, George Nevett and Ryan De Havilland have all missed both of Peterborough’s fixtures. On top of this, new signing and Manchester City loanee Mo Susoho was forced to withdraw from the squad midweek with a hamstring injury, one which could see the youngster on the sidelines for a lengthy time. Winger Kwame Poku has also been struggling with injury issues, training merely 48 hours before Posh’s campaign kicked off at the Western Holmes Stadium.
Speaking today on his ‘Hard Truth’podcast, MacAnthony revealed
“It’s been a frustrating start, more off the pitch than on it. Last season we had a 94% fitness retention rate which was the best in the EFL, and it looks like we are paying for it now. It’s no one’s fault, but we’ve had some ridiculous injuries like Mo (Susoho) picking up a problem during a warm-up”
MacAnthony then spoke about star player Kyprainou, who is currently injured
” Hector (Kyprainou) is a massive loss obviously. We turned down bids in the summer from huge Championship clubs for him. We believe he is the best midfielder in League One.
He further stated
“George Nevett fractured his arm and he was due to play the quarterback role Ronnie Edwards played last season with the advantage of being left-footed and Kwame was kicked on the foot during training two days before the Huddersfield game. We need him at full speed as a fully fit Kwame would make any Championship side better.
“We have also lost Rio (Adebisi) until November, who we paid a lot of money for to play at left-back, thanks to a cartilage problem which meant we had to go and sign Jack Sparkes and there are knock-on effects as it meant some players like Donay O’Brien-Brady were thrust into the first-team sooner than expected.
“Jack (Sparkes) and Sam Curtis are miles behind in fitness terms. Jack didn’t play for Portsmouth in pre-season as they had two left-backs and Sam hadn’t played 90 minutes for nine months. They’ve looked like they are pulling caravans on their backs, but they will get there.
“Mo’s unavailability will cause us a problem because we are at our cap limit. Hopefully, a solution will be found. We have a great relationship with City and maybe they could offer us someone else. I’d rather Mo was fit and available though as he looked like a top prospect in the Huddersfield game. If he’s not we will have to try and sign someone else.”
Writer’s View
Peterborough’s luck with injuries seems to have run out. To have four or five players out at one time is never easy, yet alone multiple players who looked to be in manager Ferguson’s starting plans to be in the XI. These injuries have occurred at the worst time for the Posh, as League One looks to be stronger than ever, with the likes of Birmingham City, Huddersfield and Rotherham United coming down from the Championship on top of the strength League One already had with the likes of Bolton Wanderers, Charlton Athletic and Barnsley.
It will be no doubt that Peterborough will again be pushing for promotion, after the disappointment of their play-off campaign last season. Everyone associated with the club will be hoping their injury woes cease to a halt if they have any chance of replicating and improving on what they achieved last season.
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