Peterborough United host their first game of their 2012/2013 pre-season campaign against Premier League opposition.
Peterborough United -Vs- Norwich City
Venue: London Road
Date: 28th July, 2012
Kick-off: 3pm
Chris Hughton`s Norwich City are up next for the Posh as they continue their pre-season campaign.
The Canaries travel to London Road on the back of a 1-0 win at Celtic. They will be looking to include their new signings in their squad for the match, as well as a number of ex Posh players.
TEAM NEWS
Peterborough United
Peterborough United will be without injured left back Tommy Rowe until September or October, following his broken collarbone injury, suffered in Posh`s last pre-season friendly against St Neots. Kgosi Nthle is expected to fill the gap at left back, as Darren Ferguson is assessing his options before deciding whether to sign someone either permanently, or on loan, to take Rowe`s place. Strikers Emile Sinclair and Dave Hibbert again miss out through injuries, and may not be back for a number of weeks.
New signing Jonson Clarke-Harris is unlikely to feature, as he is part of a Peterborough XI playing AFC Rushden tonight (Friday). The other senior players included in the XI are Joe Day, Scott Griffiths and Nicky Ajose. But Ajose and Griffiths are both transfer listed at Posh, and wouldn`t have played a part in the fixture.
Youngsters Peter Grant, Dan Lawlor and Michael Richens are all expected to play some part after impressing in the first two friendlies. Should full-back Craig Alcock be ruled out once again through injury, Richens could start at right back, following his impressive performance and goal in the 6-0 win over St Neots.
New signings Bobby Olejnik, Nat Knight-Percival, Danny Swanson and Michael Bostwick will be making their first appearances at London Road since their summer transfers to the club. Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, Shaun Brisley and Tyrone Barnett will all make their return to London Road, following their permanent moves to the Posh. This will be Gabriel Zakuani`s first game in front of the home crowd as Posh captain.
Vital Posh predicts the starting line-up could be:
Olejnik
Richens, Knight-Percival, Zakuani, Nthle
Bostwick
Mendez-Laing Boyd
Swanson
Taylor, Barnett
Norwich City
Norwich are set to include a number of former Posh players in their squad for Saturday`s friendly. Defenders Ryan Bennett and Russell Martin could start for Norwich, while Andrew Crofts could play a part in midfield. Bennett is on standby for the Team GB Olympics squad, but it is unlikely that he will be called in urgently, as GB have no new fresh injury worries.
Norwich have completed the signings of winger Robert Snodgrass and defender Michael Turner in recent days, and they are expected to play a big part, if not the whole game, for their new side. Snodgrass has signed from Leeds, (sparking speculation about a move for Posh`s George Boyd to Leeds), and Michael Turner from fellow premier league side, Sunderland. However, another of the Canaries signings, Steven Whittaker, is unlikely to feature, after picking up a knock in the friendly with Celtic.
PREDICTION
This should be a good warm up for both teams, and if Posh have a repeat performance the second half against St Neots, it could be a very tight game.
Vital Posh predicts a tight game ending in a battling 3 – 2 defeat.
UP THE POSH Follow me on Twitter: @TommLeaa
Photos/images courtesy of www.theposhpics.com
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