LONDON, CMC – Peterborough United manager Darren Ferguson praised Jonson Clarke-Harris after Jamaica International scored a stunning brace to help the club secure a 2-2 draw against League 1 promotion rival Barnsley.
The 29-year-old striker, widely tipped to leave Peterborough in the January transfer window, set aside swirling questions over his future to bring the eastern England club back from a two-goal deficit in a thrilling League 1 contest this past Friday.
Clarke-Harris delivered what could be a memorable farewell in front of the home fans at London Road, heading in crosses from David Ajiboye and Harrison Burrows either side of the half-time break to earn the hosts a point after a stunning recall to the starting 11 for the first time in two months.
The double was the second of the campaign for Clarke-Harris, taking his goal tally to 10, with six of them coming in the league.
“Jonno knows his time is up at the club as he’s likely to get a move in January,” Ferguson said in an interview with the club’s website. “He’s a great example of someone who has trained well and been great with the younger players.
“I told him he was going to play (this match) as we needed to give Ricky (Jade Jones) a rest and that he has nothing to prove to anyone, so to go out and play his normal game.”
Ferguson added: “There is no striker better than him in the box in the league – simple as that. Once we started getting quality into the box, he scored goals.
“I thought he was great, and if we had got the penalty – and we must surely be due one – he would have taken it and probably ended up with a hat-trick.
“Tremendous credit goes to all my players for the character they showed to come from behind. They have determination and desire not to lose games of football.”
Peterborough, also known as “The Posh,” will now end the year third, only four points off top-placed Portsmouth and two behind second-placed Bolton.
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