Peterborough v Darlington preview

Defender remains on sidelines

By Amanda Cornforth   Last updated: 2nd May 2008

jamie day peterborough

Day: Absent

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Peterborough manager Darren Ferguson will again be without left-back Jamie Day for the promotion party against Darlington.

Day has missed the last two games with a groin problem and will again miss out so Tom Williams will continue his stint at the back.

Williams has had to be patient for a run in the side since signing from Wycombe in January but excelled in the 4-1 win at Grimsby last Saturday with a pair of assists.

Adam Newton will also continue his spell at right-back as contract rebel Claude Gnakpa is left out after snubbing a new deal.

Striker Liam Hatch will miss out after picking up an injury to the back of his knee as Posh seek a 29th win of the season in front of over 12,000 fans.

Darlington

Striker Pawel Abbott's season appears to be over as Darlington prepare for the trip.

The Quakers are hoping a spell in an oxygen tank can aid Abbott's recovery from a hamstring problem which flared up against Dagenham last weekend but boss Dave Penney is fearing the worst as his side steel themselves for a chance of play-off glory.

Penney's injury problems could ease over the coming week as Julian Joachim (ankle) may return for the play-offs but the striker is expected to miss out against second-placed Posh.

Ryan Valentine (knee), Greg Blundell (stomach) and Neil Austin (ankle) are expected to sit out again while suspended midfielder Ben Parker is also sidelined. Parker was sent off in last Saturday's 3-2 defeat at the hands of Dagenham and must now serve a one-game ban.

Striker Tommy Wright has not trained all week and along with Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu, who is carrying a groin strain, could be rested.

Penney is considering calling 15-year-old striker Curtis Main into the squad.

He has featured a number of times in the reserves and would become the Quakers' youngest player should he feature.