Midfielder set for a return to Stevenage this weekend as Peterborough United come to town for pre-season friendly

Gary Smith says he was ‘bitterly disappointed’ that Michael Bostwick moved to Peterborough this summer, but added that the midfielder had been a terrific servant to Stevenage during his time at the club.

Bostwick is set to make his first return to Boro since his transfer to the Championship side just weeks ago when the Posh come to the Lamex this Saturday and the 24-year-old is likely to start the match alongside another former Stevenage player, George Boyd.

Speaking ahead of this weekend’s friendly, Smith told the Comet: “Michael has been a terrific servant to the club.

“As the chairman has already stated, it was a move that offered the club the right sort of deal and offered the player the chance to move up and would change the player’s life.

“I think it will be a long time before I run into an individual who is so genuine, who is such a big influence on a team and who is such a fantastic lad.

“I liked Michael immensely and was bitterly disappointed, even with the resources we gained in return, to see him move.”

Stevenage lost 4-2 at Bishop’s Stortford in a friendly on Wednesday evening with their goals coming from Filipe Morais and Robin Shroot.

This weekend they host Peterborough before taking on Arlesey Town next Tuesday evening and St Albans City next Wednesday.

The club will then play a behind closed doors friendly against QPR next Friday (August 10).

Speaking about this Saturday’s match, Smith said: “Peterborough will be a tough test and a benchmark to see where we’re at 10 days before we kick off the first competitive game, the League Cup game [against AFC Wimbledon].

“I’m very pleased [with pre-season so far]. The new guys have come in and are settling in well. We are working hard on what we perceive to be a slightly different style of play and they’ve taken that on board. Physically they are in good shape and at this point in pre-season I think we’re in a good spot.”