Peterborough v Walsall preview

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Jon Taylor is expected to return to the Peterborough squad as Posh attempt to get their play-off challenge back on track at home to Walsall.

The winger missed the defeat to Scunthorpe with a slight knee injury as manager Dave Robertson made five changes at Glanford Park. Another enforced change saw skipper Jack Payne pull out of the starting line-up before kick-off because of illness.

Playmaker Marcus Maddison did not travel with the squad on Friday due to a virus and he will be assessed along with Payne.

Gaby Zakuani left the pitch with a head injury 15 minutes from time against Scunthorpe but the defender should be in the squad on Monday as Posh look to bounce back from successive defeats.

Rico Henry is set to boost struggling Walsall, who are three points above the relegation zone, at London Road.

The 17-year-old left-back, who has just signed a new deal with the Saddlers, has returned to training following a dislocated shoulder which has sidelined him since February.

Walsall have scored only four goals in their last 11 matches, including failing to find the net in their last three, and will continue to be without top scorer Tom Bradshaw.

The striker has been ruled out of the Easter fixtures with a hamstring problem and is targeting a return to action against Fleetwood next weekend.

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Peterborough v Walsall preview

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Josh McQuoid is expected to make his Peterborough debut against Walsall on Friday night.

The forward goes straight into Darren Ferguson’s squad after signing on loan from Bournemouth until the end of the season.

Defender Jack Baldwin, a deadline day arrival from Hartlepool, has served a one-match suspension and could also be handed his debut.

Ricardo Santos joined Posh last week and after failing to make the squad at Orient, could be set for his bow at London Road as Posh aim to record back-to-back victories.

Walsall skipper Andy Butler is suspended for Friday night’s crunch trip to promotion rivals Peterborough.

The centre-back saw red in last weekend’s hugely disappointing 3-0 home defeat to MK Dons and now serves a one-match ban.

Andy Taylor is not yet ready to make his return from a knee injury while fellow defender Dean Holden, yet to play this season, is also sidelined by a similar problem sustained in training.

However, the Saddlers are boosted by the availability of James Chambers after a hamstring complaint as they look to get back to winning ways at London Road.

Peterborough v Walsall preview

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Peterborough manager Gary Johnson has let four players leave the club prior to their home match against Walsall.

The most recent departure has been young winger Nathan Koranteng, who has joined Boston on a season-long loan. He joins Josh Simpson and Liam Hatch, who have joined Crawley and Darlington respectively on permanent deals, while rookie defender Carl Piergianni has signed for Altrincham on a work experience deal.

Of the players still at London Road, captain Grant McCann is a doubt for the meeting with the Saddlers. The midfielder played with a broken nose in Posh’s last game – the 1-1 draw with Swindon on December 28 – but went off in the 77th minute struggling with the injury.

Former Lincoln midfielder Lee Frecklington is expected to miss out again with his ankle problem, whereas luckless striker Dave Hibbert is a long-term absentee with a dislocated knee and is not expected to return until March.

With Aaron McLean’s departure to Hull, Lee Tomlin is expected to be used again as a supporting striker behind Craig Mackail-Smith. Chris Whelpdale, who recently returned from a successful loan spell at Gillingham, is likely to continue to occupy Tomlin’s regular place on the wing.

Walsall boss Chris Hutchings could make changes for the trip to Peterborough following his side’s heavy 3-0 home defeat at the hands of Notts County.

Strikers Jon Macken and Ruben Reid both played 22 minutes at the Banks’s Stadium, marking their returns from calf and hamstring niggles respectively, and the pair are likely to partner each other up-front with Alex Nicholls and Will Grigg dropping to the bench.

Richard Taundry, who missed the County clash, could return from an ankle injury in time to face Posh and be thrown straight back into the starting line-up, replacing regular left-back Aaron Lescott in the centre of midfield.

However, popular goalkeeper Jimmy Walker will not be fit in time for the game despite nearing a comeback from a hamstring problem and club captain Darren Byfield continues to aim for a January return from his long-term knee injury.