Peterborough United boss Darren Ferguson has confirmed that striker Craig Mackail-Smith will play an hour against Sunderland at London Road on Tuesday evening in the final pre-season friendly ahead of the new campaign.

Mackail-Smith trained on the pitch at Oxford on Saturday and will train again on Monday afternoon ahead of the clash with the Premier League side.

Ferguson is convinced that Mackail-Smith will be in the squad that travels to Pride Park to face Derby County on Saturday 8th August when the Championship campaign commences.

'Craig will play an hour against Sunderland and if he comes through unscathed he will be in the squad at Derby next week. He may not be fully fit next week, but adrenaline will get him through and I would have no problem picking him. 'It is a massive boost to have Craig back in the squad because we felt he may miss the start of the season, which would have been a blow,' Ferguson said.

Mackail-Smith added: 'It is good news that I will be playing against Sunderland and I just want to get some match fitness under my belt. It has been a really frustrating time and missing pre-season has been very disappointing, but I can see light at the end of the tunnell now.'

Ferguson also confirmed that midfielder Dean Keates will also play an hour against Sunderland after missing the last four friendly fixtures with an Achilles problem. Keates will be available against Derby too, should he come through unscathed.