Peterborough United manager Darren Ferguson has signalled his intent to return to the overseas transfer market, having been encouraged by the progress of Swedish signings Gustav Lindgren and Oscar Wallin.
The pair arrived from Degerfors IF last summer and, despite early challenges adapting to English football, are now making their mark in League One. Centre-back Wallin is set to start his tenth consecutive game for Posh this weekend when they face promotion-chasing Charlton Athletic, his longest run in the side to date.
Swedes Winning Over Ferguson
Striker Lindgren, who netted twice on his debut in January, has struggled for consistent game time due to a shoulder injury sustained against Charlton on 11 February. However, the 23-year-old could make his return sooner than expected, potentially featuring in Peterborough’s clash with Reading on 29 March.
“If Gustav gets through a week of training he will be available for Reading,” Ferguson said. “And that’s a bit quicker than we expected. Obviously it’s good news for us as we have a busy period coming up when we play Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday before Wembley.”
The Posh boss admitted the season has been a steep learning curve for the Scandinavian duo but believes they have adapted admirably. Wallin, in particular, has grown in confidence in recent weeks, building a strong defensive partnership with January recruit Sam Hughes.
“Oscar has shown real improvement lately,” Ferguson added. “He had one or two slips at Cambridge last weekend, but the week before against Wycombe he delivered one of his best performances. It wasn’t easy for him coming into a side which was leaking a lot of goals, but the recruitment we did in January has helped him.”
Ferguson admitted that scouting abroad was new territory for him, but the success of Lindgren and Wallin has changed his outlook on recruitment strategy.
“I’ve never really looked for players in an overseas market before and what I’ve seen from Gustav and Oscar has convinced me it will prove to be a good decision. The quality of player you can get for a good financial deal is decent. They both speak perfect English as well which helps.”
While Lindgren is still awaiting his first League One goal, with just five starts in the competition, his return to action could be pivotal as Posh prepare for a congested fixture schedule ahead of their trip to Wembley.
Writer’s View
Darren Ferguson’s growing confidence in the overseas market could signal a major shift in Peterborough United’s recruitment policy. The performances of Wallin and Lindgren show promising signs, particularly as the club balances immediate promotion ambitions with long-term squad development.
If Posh continue to find value abroad, their model could quickly become a blueprint for other League One sides navigating financial constraints while seeking top-tier talent.
