Peterborough United: Barry Fry backs forward Luke James

Luke James joined Peterborough on a four-year deal in the summer of 2014

Forward Luke James can come good for Peterborough United, according to director of football Barry Fry.

James, 20, has scored once in 32 league games since joining from Hartlepool.

"My opinion of Luke is he's not scored goals for us but he's arguably one of the best forwards we've had in terms of all-round ability," said Fry.

"I'm sure that if we stay with him, loan him out and let him get his confidence back he'll be very good for Peterborough in the future."

Fry ruled out a return to Hartlepool for James, but said "three or four clubs" were interested in taking him on loan.

Jack Payne has made 103 appearances for Posh since joining, initially on loan, in 2013

Meanwhile, last season's captain Jack Payne, 23, is expected to leave London Road after being placed on the transfer list.

Fry said the Gravesend-born midfielder had interested his boyhood club Gillingham earlier in the summer.

"I was supposed to meet Paul Scally, the Gillingham owner and chairman, at the chairman's conference in Portugal and owing to illness he wasn't there," Fry told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire.

"So nothing's happened at the moment and, although he's on the transfer list, nobody else has enquired.

"He's expressed a wish to move closer to home as a family thing, nothing to do with football."