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Gary Johnson enjoys a successful summer at Peterborough

By Peter Swan
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

Gary Johnson
Johnson has won promotion from League One with Bristol City

Gary Johnson arrived at Peterborough United with the challenge of assembling a new-look squad.

After the disappointment of relegation from the Championship, Posh needed fresh blood to mount a promotion push in League One.

Owner Darragh MacAnthony allowed Johnson to bring in new players before offloading members of the current squad and the gamble paid off handsomely.

The club's transfer dealings were virtually complete by the start of pre-season training, with most of their first-choice targets coming on board.

Johnson also succeeded in persuading star midfielder George Boyd to sign a new long-term deal, despite interest from a number of rival clubs.

Posh fans had feared a potential exodus of star talent, but the likes of Joe Lewis, Craig Mackail-Smith and Aaron Mclean have all stayed at London Road.

As a result, Johnson's side look well set to push for an immediate return to the Championship. But just who are the new faces charged with bringing the good times back?

MARK LITTLE - DEFENDER
Mark Little
Little made nine appearances while on loan at Posh last season

Posh fans know all about Mark Little following his loan spell at the end of last season.

Brought to the club by Jim Gannon, the 21-year-old started nervously but quickly grew in stature and was utilised effectively at both full-back and centre-back.

After being released by Wolverhampton Wanderers over the summer he was offered terms by Johnson and signed a three-year deal.

Right full-back was a problem area for much of last season, but Little looks set to make the position his own.

He is a product of the Wolves academy and spent time on loan with Northampton and Chesterfield while at Molineux.

KELVIN LANGMEAD - DEFENDER
Kelvin Langmead
Langmead began his career at Preston North End

With Craig Morgan moving to Preston and Gabby Zakuani still struggling following groin surgery, Kelvin Langmead may prove to be Johnson's most important summer signing.

He made over 200 appearances during a six-year spell with Shrewsbury, reaching the League Two play-offs in 2007 and 2009.

Despite being only 25, he is likely to be the most experienced head in the Posh defence and will add leadership at the back.

On completing the deal for Langmead, Johnson said: "The main reason I took him is not only because he's a quality footballer, but because he's a leader.

"I think at the back we haven't really got any talkers among our defenders."

SETH NANA OFORI-TWUMASI - DEFENDER
Seth Nana Ofori-Twumasi
Ofori-Twumasi has collected two England Under-20 caps

A product of the Chelsea academy, Seth Nana Ofori-Twumasi, 20, is a versatile defender who can play at either right-back or left-back.

He spent time on loan with Dagenham and Redbridge last season, making eight appearances and scoring twice.

Despite having been born in Ghana, he has represented England at Under-16, Under-17, Under-18 and Under-20 levels and has said he would like to win full caps with the national side.

With Mark Little set to be first choice at right-back, Ofori-Twumasi looks to have been signed with the left-back berth in mind.

GRANT McCANN - MIDFIELDER
Grant McCann
McCann joins Posh with Championship experience

Grant McCann should bring much needed experience and know-how to the centre of midfield having won promotion from League One with Scunthorpe in 2009.

Posh fought off a number of clubs to secure the 30-year-old's signature with Johnson's reputation a major selling point.

McCann has been named as captain and will be charged with dictating the pace of play, particularly when Posh are struggling to break sides down.

He is a Northern Ireland international with 26 caps and has spent time at Cheltenham and Barnsley having started his career with West Ham.

JAMES WESOLOWSKI - MIDFIELDER
James Wesolowski
Wesolowski has one Australia Under-20 cap

Injuries have proved a regular source of frustration during the fledgling career of midfielder James Wesolowski.

The 22-year-old Australian broke the same leg twice and fractured his ankle during four years with Leicester City.

However a successful loan spell with Hamilton in the Scottish Premier League brought him to the attention of Posh.

He will compete with Charlie Lee and Lee Frecklington for a place in central midfield alongside McCann.

Wesolowski said on joining the club: "My new goal is to help Peterborough achieve promotion and I believe we can do that.

"The manager was a big part of my decision to come here, he has great experience and I can't wait to play for him."

NATHANIEL MENDEZ-LAING - WINGER
Nathaniel Mendez-Laing
Mendez-Laing has yet to make a league appearance

Johnson was in the crowd as Mendez-Laing picked up the man-of-the-match award in what is to date his only appearance for parent club Wolves.

The 19-year-old put in a live-wire display in a League Cup win over Swindon, but remains well down the pecking order at Molineux.

He arrives at Posh on a season-long loan and will hope to pick-up a valuable first team experience.

Johnson feels Mendez-Laing is the sort of tricky winger who will excite fans.

ARRON DAVIES - WINGER
Aaron Davies
Davies reached the 2007 League One play-off final with Yeovil

Arron Davies is another player to have struggled with injuries in recent seasons.

He played under Johnson at Yeovil before making a multi-million pound move to Nottingham Forest in 2007 where he made just 32 appearances in two and a half seasons.

At 26, he still has time to get his career back on track and should provide options across midfield and up front.

With Chris Whelpdale struggling to reach full fitness and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing short of match experience, Davies could well start the season on the right wing.

DAVE HIBBERT - STRIKER
Dave Hibbert
Hibbert scored 30 goals in three years at Shrewsbury

Posh went into last season without the option of a target-man forward.

Dave Hibbert, 24, arrives to fill that void, having scored 14 goals for Shrewsbury in League Two last season.

He started his career with Port Vale before a short spell in the Championship with Preston. Loans with Rotherham and Bradford followed before a move to Shropshire in 2007.

Craig Mackail-Smith and Aaron Mclean look set to start the new campaign as Johnson's first choice pairing, but Hibbert should be pushing hard for a place in the first XI.

He has looked equally comfortable playing either in a front two or as a lone centre-forward during pre-season and scored a well taken goal against West Ham.



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see also
McCann confirmed as Posh captain
02 Aug 10 |  Peterborough
Posh defensive search to continue
28 Jul 10 |  Peterborough
Johnson closes in on Posh team
21 Jul 10 |  Peterborough


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