Peterborough United boss Grant McCann has admitted it will be "tough and go" whether full-back Joe Ward will be involved against Nottingham Forest.
Ward has been a key member of the Peterborough United squad this season, appearing 36 times for the Posh as they bid to avoid relegation from the Championship. The full-back was withdrawn at half-time against Barnsley on Easter Monday, however, with a dead leg having also missed the previous game due to a suspension.
The 26-year-old was sent off at Bristol City and as a result missed the 2-1 win over Blackburn Rovers on Good Friday.
Posh boss McCann has now said that a combination of his leg injury and illness has threatened to rule him out the clash with Steve Cooper's side this weekend. Sammie Szmodics, Kwame Poku and Josh Knight have all featured in the position in Ward's absence, but it's an area that McCann admits to be short of options in.
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Speaking ahead of the Forest game, the Posh boss told the Peterborough Telegraph: "Joe is struggling a bit with his thigh and illness as well over the last couple of days. It’s touch and go for him and we’ll see where he is later on today (April 21) and first thing in the morning.
"It’s possible Sammie will play wing back but we pick the team and the formation based on the opposition we are going to play. Sometimes that will mean players that have played well previously, might not be in the team next time. As much as we want to keep the form players on the pitch, we have to think tactically as well."
He added: "We are where we are, we have no fit full-backs at the club, Nathan Thompson and Dan Butler are the two recognised full backs. Harrison is not a full back, he’s done a job there when needed, Joe has also done a job there when needed, we’ve tried Josh Knight at full back, Bali is more of a wing back/winger for me and Hayden Coulson is one I see as a more attacking player as well.
"We are having to juggle people and people are having to play out of position, everyone is having to grab an oar and get on with it."
Coulson was absent from the bench at Barnsley due to a slight injury but has since recovered. His only involvement in the matchday squad during the past nine league matches was against Blackburn on Good Friday. Jorge Grant, meanwhile, is expected to return to the matchday squad after sitting out the last the game with a knock.
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