Peterborough United manager Darren Ferguson has expressed hope that forward Kwame Poku will return in time for the final two months of the season, as the club battles to secure its League One status.
Poku, who Ferguson hails as the best player in the division, has been sidelined since December after undergoing hamstring surgery. The 23-year-old had already scored 10 goals in 20 appearances before his injury, leaving a significant gap in the squad.
With 17 matches remaining in the season, including a crucial trip to Charlton Athletic on Tuesday, Peterborough currently sit 20th in the table, just four points above the relegation zone.
Ferguson: “We Won’t Rush Him Back”
Speaking to BBC Radio Cambridgeshire, Ferguson outlined the club’s cautious approach to Poku’s return.
“Kwame is on schedule, we’re looking towards the end of the month for him.
“We’re going to have to go gently with him, I’m obviously not going to risk a further injury for him, that’s the most important thing.
“I’m looking at Kwame probably getting the last dozen league games of the season, whether that’s starting or just gradually building him up with minutes.”
Despite Poku’s imminent return, Ferguson was quick to remind his squad that the responsibility to climb the table does not rest solely on one player.
“But just because he comes back, it doesn’t mean we’re going to win every game. The other players have a responsibility, without Kwame in the team, to start winning some more games, and that’s what we’re looking at.”
Survival the Main Priority
While Peterborough are also in the semi-finals of the EFL Trophy—a competition they won last season—Ferguson has stressed that avoiding relegation remains the primary objective.
The Posh will face either Wrexham or Bolton Wanderers in the semi-finals, but the manager insists their focus must remain on League One survival.
“We have got a mini-table – there are nine teams that we have to better or match to make sure that we’re in the league next season.
“It can’t be so simple, in football or in life, that everything goes the way you want it to. It doesn’t work that way.
“This season’s been tough, this season’s been a season we have to learn from, it’s now a season where we have to make sure we stay in the league and try and win the cup, that’s the reality.”
Writer’s View
Kwame Poku’s return could provide a significant boost for Peterborough United in their fight for survival, but as Ferguson rightly pointed out, the entire squad must step up in the weeks ahead. While Posh fans will be eager to see their star forward back in action, ensuring his full recovery remains paramount. With League One safety on the line and an EFL Trophy semi-final on the horizon, the coming months will define the club’s season.
