Danny Owen
 
Photo by James Williamson – AMA/Getty Images

Siriki Dembele cannot afford many more displays like this if he wants to join a Premier League club next month.

On his day, the latest in a long line of fresh-faced Peterborough United starlets is the most exhilarating attacking talent in League One.

Just ask Shrewsbury Town, who found themselves on the wrong end of a sublime Dembele hat-trick in October.

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The former Grimsby Town youngster has not scored a single league goal in the eight games since his first career treble, however, with a dramatic dip in form posing a risk to his previously iron-clad place in Peterborough’s starting XI.

Like his legendary father, Posh coach Darren Ferguson is not man who readily accepts a dip in standards.

“We have a few players out of form who need to get going again. I can’t keep waiting,” Ferguson told the Peterborough Telegraph after hauling Dembele off before the hour in Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with MK Dons.

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“They need to realise we have players coming back and I am certainly not afraid to field our younger players.

“I don’t regret the substitution of Dembele for (Mo) Eisa. When you keep giving the ball away it makes no difference how good you can be.”

Outspoken Peterborough owner Darragh MacAnthony compared Dembele to Wilfred Zaha last week on his Hard Truth podcast, while previously suggesting that he would demand £15 million for the London-born 24-year-old.

Wolverhampton Wanderers, QPR, Derby County and Zaha’s Crystal Palace have all been linked, via TEAMtalk, while Newcastle United boss Steve Bruce scouted Dembele in a recent clash with Crewe (Chronicle).

Celtic, meanwhile, could look to reunite Dembele with his younger brother Karamoko north of the border.

But, with the January window just a fortnight away, now is not the time to lose form.

Photo by MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images

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