Ivan Toney's expected Peterborough return makes it a double whammy Portsmouth could have done without

Ivan Toney, the joint-top scorer in English football, is set to return for the Posh line-up for the game at London Road.

The prolific marksman has missed the past two matches for Darren Ferguson’s side because of suspension.

Following an accumulation of 10 yellow cards this term, he missed the League One outings against Fleetwood and Burton.

But on the same day which sees Burgess start a similar two-game ban following the collection of his 10th yellow in the 3-1 win against Rochdale, Toney is set to return with the remit of kick-starting Peterborough’s promotion bid.

The Posh’s hopes of reaching the Championship have suffered since the forward’s suspension kicked in.

Following their 4-0 success against Southend on February 11, Ferguson’s side sat second in the table – one point off top spot and five clear of Pompey, who sat sixth, albeit with three games in hand.

Yet following a 2-1 defeat to Fleetwood and then a 1-1 draw at Burton, Peterborough have lost significant ground on their rivals.

They now sit eighth in the table, two points outside the play-off positions and three adrift of the third-placed Blues, with the Blues still having a match in hand.

That shows the competitiveness at the top end of the League One table, with every match, goal, sending off and booking having an impact on the standings.

However, the return of Toney should provide the Posh with the lift they need.

He’s netted 25 goals in 38 appearances for Peterborough this term – a record that places him alongside Swindon’s Eoin Doyle as the country’s most prolific front man.

The 23-year-old has scored in 66 per cent of all games featured in this season, while 16 of his 25 strikes have come on home soil.

His 23 league goals make up for 35 per cent of Posh total in the league this campaign.

He averages a goal every 1.5 games – and just in case you are thinking he could be out of form going into the game against the Blues, you will be sadly mistaken.

Toney has scored eight goals in his past six appearances – including doubles in the games against Southend and Oxford United.

It’s little wonder, therefore, why the likes of Cetlic, Brentford and Bristol City were reportedly scouting around the former Newcastle youngster in January.

And coupled with the fact that both he and striker partner Mo Eisa have netted 41 goals between them this term, it’s not surprising that some of the Fratton faithful are nervous about Pompey’s latest trip to a promotion rival.

The absence of Burgess, who will also miss Tuesday night’s game with Fleetwood, compounds those feelings.

He’s been a rock for the Blues this term, forming a good and reliable understanding with fellow centre-back Sean Raggett.

The former Peterborough defender has missed just five games all term, with four of them coming in the Leasing.com Trophy – another stat that proves his value to this promotion-chasing outfit.

Pompey have won 60 per cent of the their games with Burgess in their side – 26.

And if Blues fans needed further evidence of his importance, all they have to do is look back on the last time the 28-year-old failed to feature in the league.

It was December 14, 2019, when Pompey made the trip to Accrington in the league.

The result that day? A 4-1 defeat.

Enough said.