Malik Mothersille: 'Work in progress' Peterborough striker pleases boss Darren Ferguson
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Malik Mothersille scored four goals for Chelsea's Under-21s in last season's EFL Trophy
Peterborough manager Darren Ferguson described Malik Mothersille as a "work in progress" following the striker's first goal for the club.
The 20-year-old netted the third in a 3-0 win over Arsenal Under-21s in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy.
It put Posh into the last 16 of a competition they won in 2013-14, during the manager's first spell in charge.
"I think he's got to get up to speed with the fact that every game means something," said Ferguson.
Apart from three starts in the trophy, Mothersille's only other appearance since arriving from Chelsea was as a late substitute against Salford City in the FA Cup.
"He's like a loan player, but he's not - he's come from that environment where there's 21s and they're good technically," Ferguson told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire.
"What we've seen against Arsenal, and Tottenham previously, that's what these teams are like. But are they equipped to go into a first-team environment, trying to get a promotion.
"I'm not saying he's not going to get there - he will - but he's a work in progress, mentally, and in terms of where he's at. But he's a good player, there's no question."
Ferguson made several changes to the league line-up and saw his team take control of the tie after Ryan de Havilland and Jonson Clarke-Harris scored in the space of three minutes before half-time.
Mothersille added the third after the break before keeper Fynn Talley saved a penalty by Arsenal's Khayon Edwards.
"I was happy with one hour of it - first 30 minutes I wasn't, so we tweaked one or two things. We had to be more aggressive," said Ferguson.
"It almost became like an under-21s game, which was never going to suit us - we had to play with more intent and got the [first] two goals. Should have been three or four at half-time - game over.
"This game was about self-motivation, to show they're ready to play in the first team. At the moment, most of those players aren't. That's not because they aren't good enough - they are good enough.
"That's what happens in football - sometimes you're in, sometimes you're out, and when you get an opportunity, you've got to make sure you take it."
Ferguson added: "A clean sheet and some good performances - we take out of it what we can and we're through to the last 16."
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