League One side Peterborough United will protect one of their star assets as he returns from injury, so as not to impact his World Cup ambitions.
Posh eased to victory against Wigan Athletic at the weekend. They ran out 6–1 winners and moved up to 10th in the league, eight points off the play-off spots.
It’s been quite a turnaround at the club since Luke Williams took over with the side at the bottom of League One.
With an albeit slim chance of reaching the play-offs, Williams looks set to be without one of his key players, Matthew Garbett. The New Zealand international is recovering from a foot injury, but the club are being cautious with his return.
Garbett an “Important Player” for Posh
Speaking to BBC Radio Cambridgeshire, Williams reassured fans it was just a minor injury that caused him to miss the Wigan game:
“He needs protection and constant monitoring because it’s a very minor injury that can suggest a more serious injury – if you manage the minor one, you prevent the major one.”
The Peterborough manager did go on to say that he couldn’t put a time frame on his return, and flagged how Garbett could have a big summer ahead:
“He’s a very important player, he’s got a huge role to play in the team going forward and there’s a chance the boy is going to play at the World Cup, and we have to help him be in the best possible shape.
“We have to try to make sure we protect him and don’t put him at a huge risk that is unnecessary and irresponsible.
“I’m very confident we’ll be able to manage him successfully to a swifter return. How swift that return is, is more like a piece of string, but we’ve managed to prevent something that could have certainly been more serious.”
How Important Has Garbett Been for Peterborough United?
The 23-year-old has been an ever-present in the Peterborough side since joining last summer on a free transfer.
He’s played 24 times, starting 20 games, and has an average Sofascore rating of 6.88, the fourth-highest in the squad.
Garbett only has four goal contributions, three goals and one assist, all season, but his individual statistics are impressive.
In front of the goal, he’s averaging 1.9 shots per game and 0.5 shots on target per game, while missing only one big chance.
While creatively, he’s created five big chances and is averaging 1.3 key passes per game, the highest in the Posh squad.
The New Zealand midfielder is contributing defensively as well. He has 1.4 tackles per game, 0.7 clearances per game, and has recovered 3.9 balls per game.
Will He Go to the World Cup With New Zealand?
He will likely be at the World Cup this summer, as long as he is fit.
Since making his senior international debut back in 2021, Garbett has played 36 games, scoring five goals. He’s also represented his nation at the Olympic Games
In their most recent friendlies against Colombia and Ecuador, he played a total of 90 minutes. Given his inclusion in their most recent squad, it’s highly likely he will be in America this summer.
He’ll likely be keen to ensure he’s playing regular minutes while being cautious not to aggravate the injury further.