Peterborough United Vs Walsall, Mon 3 Jan 2011

Posted Monday, January 03, 2011 by Givemesport.com

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 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.