Swindon v Peterborough preview

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Swindon boss Mark Cooper will be without three key players as he prepares for his 100th game at the helm against Peterborough.

The Robins suffered their second successive 3-0 defeat on Tuesday as they went down to local rivals Bristol City, a match which saw midfielder Yaser Kasim and Raphael Branco both pick up their 10th yellow cards of the season and the pair now face two-game suspensions, starting with the visit of Posh.

Captain Nathan Thompson is already suspended having reached the 10-yellow mark against MK Dons and he serves the final game of his own two-match suspension.

And Cooper will also check on defender Harry Toffolo who missed the televised loss with a hip problem that will be assessed in the build-up to kick-off.

Jon Taylor remains out for Peterborough but the visitors have no new injury concerns.

Taylor has missed the last two matches with a knee problem and it is not yet known when they winger might be back in the Posh squad.

Alan Sheehan, Luke Williams and James Pearson were all overlooked against Walsall on Monday and the trio will be hoping to be involved at the County Ground.

The likes of Erhun Oztumer, Conor Washington and Joe Newell will be pushing for recalls for Peterborough, who after two defeats and a draw are now six points off the play-off places.

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Swindon v Peterborough preview

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Swindon’s new signing George Barker will go straight into the squad for the visit of Peterborough.

The Robins snapped up the striker earlier this week for an undisclosed fee from Brighton and he could even be handed a start by manager Mark Cooper.

Youth-team striker Connor Waldon is likely to be included in the squad having returned from a successful loan spell at Gloucester City where he netted seven times in 10 games.

Meanwhile, defender Troy Archibald-Henville is closing in on a first-team return after a knee injury and the 25-year-old could be pushing for inclusion in the coming weeks but this match looks to have come too soon for the former Exeter centre-back.

Danny Kearns and Tommy Rowe come back into the reckoning for Peterborough ahead of the trip to Swindon.

Kearns has recovered from the hip problem that saw him miss the whole of December while Rowe, who Posh chairman Barry Fry claims has attracted the interest of a Premier League club this month, is ready to return after undergoing knee surgery in November.

Craig Alcock has resumed light training after an absence with a calf injury but the defender remains a couple of weeks away from being back in contention, while on-loan QPR midfielder Hogan Ephraim will complete a three-match ban.

Nicky Ajose was ineligible for the FA Cup tie at Kidderminster last weekend having already featured in the competition during his loan spell with Swindon, and the striker could face his former club.

Swindon v Peterborough preview

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Goalkeepers David Lucas and Phil Smith have recovered from knocks and will contest the number one jersey for Swindon’s home game against Peterborough.

Lucas has had a knee problem while Smith has been nursing a dead leg, however, the duo have recovered from their niggling injuries.

Smith has held the edge of late having replaced Lucas between the sticks in early November, although the 3-2 FA Cup home defeat to Crawley last time out has given manager Danny Wilson plenty to think about all over the pitch.

Midfielder Paul Caddis is expected to remain sidelined due to illness while captain Jonathan Douglas is still waiting to start his three-match suspension after the recent matches against Oldham, Tranmere and Exeter were postponed because of the bad weather.

Lee Tomlin is set for a central role when Peterborough travel to Swindon.

Tomlin has been used mainly on the wing since his summer move from Rushden & Diamonds but will partner Craig Mackail-Smith in attack as Aaron Mclean discusses a potential £1.3million move to Championship side Hull.

On-loan Wolves winger Nathaniel Mendez-Laing remains out with a troublesome groin injury while former Lincoln midfielder Lee Frecklington misses out with an ankle injury.

Luckless striker Dave Hibbert is a long-term absentee with a dislocated knee. The former Shrewsbury man underwent surgery earlier this month and could return in the spring.

Midfield duo Charlie Lee and Chris Whelpdale have returned from a successful loan spell with League Two outfit Gillingham and could come into contention.

Captain Grant McCann broke his nose after a ball hit his face during training last week but he is expected to be passed fit to play.