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Marcus Maddison
League One Games/Goals: 36/8
Born in County Durham, the self-confessed Sunderland fan would be playing at a level much higher than League One if he added more consistency to his game.
When Maddison is on fire he’s easily one of the best players in the league. Like Aiden McGeady is for ourselves, he’s a player capable of winning a game in an instant by conjuring up a bit of magic most players at this level simply aren’t capable of.
He’s already smashed one goal past us this season - scoring the first for The Posh in our 2-2 draw back in 2018 - and his speed, power and wand of a left foot will be looking to inflict further dents in the Lads’ defence. He’s also capable of operating in the number ten role, as well as his more favoured wing position.
Dear God, I wish he played for us.
Ivan Toney
League One Games/Goals: 40/12
Another player that was linked to us in the summer is Ivan Toney, who instead joined The Posh for a reported £650,000, where he has quickly turned into their most potent goal threat - scoring twelve goals since moving south.
After impressing for boyhood club Northampton as a teenager back in 2015, Steve McClaren opted to bring in the youngster to add to Newcastle’s academy squad. Dutch Schteeve’s prompt sacking though meant the now 23-year-old barely had a look in, with no less than six loan moves before his permanent transfer to Peterborough in August.
Finding a permanent home seems to have reignited the forward’s career, though. Starting the season behind first choice forwards Jason Cummings and Matt Godden, Toney’s performances meant he managed to muscle out Cummings and outscore Godden, with a goals to game ratio of almost a goal every other game.
Like Maddison, he also scored in the 2-2 draw at the Stadium of Light.
Siriki Dembélé
League One Games/Goals: 34/5
The Ivorian is still in the infancy of his career after making his league debut in 2017 for Grimsby Town in League Two.
In short, he’s an explosive winger who enjoys taking on his full-back and he possesses a real bag of tricks. For dribbles attempted, he sits top of the League One table and will be a real challenge for whoever lines up up at left-back on Easter Monday.
Still only 22-years-old, Dembélé has plenty time on his side and his rapid progression from non-league football all the way to League One in just over a couple of years means that teams higher up the league ladder will surely be keeping an eye on him if The Posh don’t manage to sneak into that final play-off spot.