Ryan Harley will take charge of Peterborough United for Tuesday night's EFL Trophy group match against Colchester United following the sacking of manager Luke Williams. The interim appointment comes with the Posh squad severely stretched by injuries and international call-ups, testing the club's depth during a difficult period where they have failed to win any of their last five league games, a run detailed in our stats section.

Harley, who was assistant to Williams, is also expected to lead the team for Saturday's League One trip to Stockport County. Peterborough currently sit 23rd in the third tier, having taken just five points from their opening seven matches. Their most recent outing was a 2-0 home defeat to Doncaster Rovers last Saturday.

Squad availability

A host of players are unavailable for the Trophy tie at Weston Homes Stadium. Central defenders Josh Feeney and David Okagbue are away on international duty, while Sam Hughes and Tom O’Connor remain sidelined through injury, adding to the list on our injuries page. This opens the door for 18-year-old Lucca Mendonca to feature in the senior defence, with Evan Weir also an option. Full-backs Carl Johnston and Harley Mills are fit, as is wing-back prospect Noah Freeman.

In attack, top scorer Harry Leonard will be a key figure, supported by the likes of D. Ormerod, who scored in the recent 3-3 draw with Barnsley. Goalkeeper Alex Bass is set to start, with Andeng Ndi among the possible substitutes. Other names in the frame include Jones, Ashfield, Woods, Shofowoke and Williams. The full schedule, including this Trophy fixture, can be found at fixtures.

Colchester challenge

Opponents Colchester United, managed by Danny Cowley, are 15th in League Two. A subplot involves on-loan Posh striker Brad Ihionvien, who requires permission from his parent club to feature for the U's. Ihionvien is yet to score since returning to Colchester on a season-long loan.

Cowley told reporters he views the match as a positive opportunity. "It’s a really exciting game for us, because I’m really looking forward to the opportunity it gives to our players, particularly some of our young ones," he said.

The EFL Trophy format awards two points for a win in 90 minutes, with one point each for a draw and an extra point for the winner of a subsequent penalty shootout. Peterborough share Group G with Luton Town and Ipswich Town Under-21s, who also play on Tuesday.

Harley's immediate task is to halt a run of poor form. His tenure begins with this cup fixture before a key league encounter away to ninth-placed Stockport County this Saturday.

This story first appeared at Peterborough Telegraph