Peterborough United seek help from mega-rich Newcastle United

​​But they first need help from mega-rich Premier League club Newcastle United.

Posh extended the loan of Magpies central defender Kell Watts at the beginning of the month even though he’d only been used sparingly by previous manager Grant McCann.

But the unfortunate 23 year-old, who missed the start of the season after suffering knee ligament damage last summer, picked up a serious hamstring injury while warming up for an internal practice match soon after the re-appointment as Posh boss of Darren Ferguson.

Posh are currently committed to paying the wages of a young Premier League player, but chairman Darragh MacAnthony is to appeal to Dan Ashworth, the sporting director at St James Park and a former Academy coach at London Road, for help.

"We want to sign a centre-back in this window,” MacAnthony revealed. “But we are on the hook financially for Kell Watts which means we can’t budget for a new signing.

"I am going to contact Dan Ashworth to see if Newcastle can do us a favour.

"Clubs have done favours for us in the past when loan players have picked up injuries and I have helped out non-league clubs in smilar situations. Sometimes clubs help and sometimes they don’t, but I will be asking the question.”

Watts started just five League One games under McCann, although he wasn’t fit until the middle of October.

It was thought he would be sent back to Newcastle in January, but Ferguson is a fan of the left-sided defender and extended the loan as soon as he returned to London Road on January 4.

Watts was then injured three days later with a scan showing a serious tear which could well end his season.

Posh are currently down to three fit specialist centre-backs - Frankie Kent, Ronnie Edwards and Josh Knight - although Nathan Thompson could play there if Ferguson opted for a three-man defence.

None of those four players are left-footed which is a concern, although natural left-back Dan Butler has been used a third centre-back in the past.