Peterborough United striker Harry Leonard has reassured fans he is okay following a frightening landing during Saturday’s League One clash with Plymouth Argyle at the Weston Homes Stadium.
The Posh forward was stretchered off late in the second half of the 1-0 defeat after receiving six minutes of on-field treatment for a collision with Plymouth midfielder Joe Ralls.
Leonard suffered a nasty-looking fall onto his head and neck, leaving teammates and supporters visibly concerned. Initial reports suggested the injury was not serious.
Leonard was taken to hospital for further tests but has now returned home. Taking to X, the striker wrote: “Just wanted to put a message out there. I’ve left the hospital now and I’m on the way home.
“I don’t think it is anything too serious and I am going to rest up and get myself right.”
The striker has been a key figure in Peterborough’s attack this season, contributing important goals and assists.
His aerial presence and physicality make him a crucial player, and his absence, even temporarily, could impact the team’s attacking options.
Peterborough chairman Darragh MacAnthony, speaking on his Hard Truth podcast, admitted he was frustrated with the refereeing during the game and suggested that the handling of fouls contributed to Leonard’s injury.
“Harry could easily have been critically injured because the game wasn’t managed properly.
“The Plymouth player didn’t deliberately foul him, but heavy challenges weren’t dealt with properly while our players kept getting booked for dissent,” MacAnthony said.
He added: “They committed something like 25 fouls to our 12 in the game and yet we picked up all the bookings.
“The referee allowed them to foul us constantly in the first half. I had to be restrained from going downstairs to see the officials, and I’ve never felt like that in 19 years.”
Despite his frustrations with officiating, MacAnthony acknowledged Plymouth deserved the win.
He described Peterborough’s performance as flat and inconsistent, noting the team struggled to impose themselves against a physical and determined Plymouth side.
“These aren’t excuses. Plymouth were physical and bullied us off the park. We let Plymouth play their game and we didn’t play ours at all.
“We hardly had a shot. We should be beating Plymouth, as we have beaten Cardiff, Stockport, and Bolton at home,” he said.
The match saw moments of promise for Peterborough, but Plymouth’s defensive organisation and physical approach frustrated the home side.
Peter Kioso was sent off in the second half, further reducing Posh’s attacking options. Fans showed visible concern for Harry Leonard and continued to support the team until the final whistle.
Leonard’s injury is a reminder of the physical demands of League One football, where aerial duels and heavy challenges are frequent.
The striker is expected to rest over the coming days and will be closely monitored by the club’s medical staff before returning to training.
Peterborough will now look to regroup ahead of their next fixture, hoping Leonard’s recovery is swift and the team can address the inconsistency highlighted by MacAnthony.
While the defeat was disappointing, the chairman remains committed to building a competitive squad capable of challenging near the top of the table.
