Peterborough United midfielder Dean Keates is struggling to be fit for Saturday's trip to Milton Keynes Dons after the former Walsall man missed Thursday's training session due to a knee injury.

It was hoped Keates might feature in the session after responding to treatment, but he is now unlikely to make the trip to stadium:mk so Micah Hyde and Charlie Lee are fighting for the berth alongside Paul Coutts.

Meanwhile, Posh have been boosted by the news that Shane Blackett will return to training next week following a quick recovery from a dislocated shoulder. The defender will be running at the training ground from Monday as he continues his rehabilitation.

Striker Aaron Mclean is making steady progress as he battles back to fitness following a dislocated elbow. Boss Darren Ferguson hinted in his pre-match press conference that Tom Williams could replace Jamie Day at left-back.

Ferguson told theposh.com: 'Milton Keynes Dons will provide tough opposition and we know we have to be on it from the first whistle. I have told the players they should relish playing in these kind of matches. It is a wonderful stadium, there will be a large crowd and we should have over 1,500 fans cheering us on.

'If the players don't want to play in these sort of matches then they shouldn't be in the game. We have a young squad, but they are very capable and I have full confidence in them,' Ferguson said.