It has been a challenging start to life back in the Championship for Peterborough United and they head into the international break in 23^rd place in the table on eight points.

There have been some standout performances by Peterborough that have shown that they do have the potential to compete at Championship level and to stay in the division this term.

The 3-0 win against Birmingham City, in particular, showed that when they are at their best, Darren Ferguson’s side can secure good results against sides that are well above them in the Championship table.

However, there have been other games such as their defeats at Luton Town, Sheffield United and Coventry City that have shown that the Posh can find life difficult when they are not performing to their maximum.

Peterborough suffered a narrow 3-2 defeat against Bristol City on Saturday to fall to a seventh defeat in their opening 11 matches. The result leaves them on eight points and they are one point adrift of safety at the moment.

So, with Ferguson having learned a lot from Peterborough’s start to the campaign, we take a look at the strongest XI that they have available to them based on the start to the season…

Ferguson has alternated in terms of the formations he had used for Peterborough at the start of the campaign. However, a 4-4-1-1 has worked well for them when they have deployed that system at times.

 

 

The goalkeeping department has been an issue for Peterborough at the start of the campaign, with Christy Pym now out of favour after a fall out with Ferguson.

As a result, David Cornell is their current number one goalkeeper in the Championship.

At right-back, Nathan Thompson has been a strong enough performer for Peterborough so far this season and he has started ten of their opening 11 league matches.

While down the other side, Dan Butler has established himself as Ferguson’s first choice at left-back.

A centre-back pairing of Frankie Kent and Ronnie Edwards is something that Ferguson has settled on in recent weeks and they are starting to form a decent relationship at the heart of the defence.

Jack Taylor has been partnering Oliver Norburn in the middle of the park for Peterborough as well over the last few matches and that is also a partnership that has shown some promising signs for Fergusons’ side.

While on the flanks, Siriki Dembele is obviously always going to be in any Peterborough side that is described as their strongest available XI.

Down the right, Harrison Burrows has now established himself in the side with his recent performances against Bournemouth and Bristol City.

Upfront, Jonson Clarke-Harris was suspended for the defeat to Bristol City and will be for the next three matches, but he remains Peterborough’s key attacking threat when available.

While Jorge Grant is their best option to play off him in the number ten position.