Torres, a £150,000 signing from Wycombe earlier this month, had an operation to remove a bone from his ankle at the end of last season and has yet to appear in a Posh match.

He is expected to start light training next week, but it will be touch and go whether or not he is available for the start of the competitive season.

The injury to Torres will ensure that Alfie Potter remains at London Road for the entire pre-season programme. He had been linked with a loan move to Kettering.

Posh manager Darren Ferguson said: "I'm hoping to get some football into Sergio in the match at Corby and against Manchester United and if we do that he might be involved against Southend.

"And I'm in no rush to get Alfie out of the door. He has done well for us so far this summer and is very much part of my plans - he is going nowhere at present."

Left-back Jamie Day has no chance of being involved at Southend after undergoing a minor operation on Monday. He is due back in training on Monday, but has missed all the pre-season work so far.

Shane Blackett, a potential left-back himself, missed the Stevenage game on Tuesday because of a thigh strain, but he could return on Saturday.