LUKE JAMES insists he’s ready to lead the Hartlepool United line in the absence of Billy Paynter.

The attacker, back at Pools on loan from Peterborough, could start as a central striker in Saturday’s game at Morecambe.

Paynter hobbled off in the second-half of Tuesday’s defeat at Carlisle United with a hamstring strain which is likely to keep him out at the weekend, and possibly beyond.

And that could mean James, who has been playing wide right in a front three, being put in the middle as Pools put Tuesday’s first defeat in seven games behind them.

“I don't mind playing anywhere as long as I'm playing,’’ he admitted. “There is no better feeling than playing games.

“I'm enjoying playing were I am at the minute, that’s where I first started playing when I first came through. I do like it, I like getting at my man and putting crosses in and cutting inside and sometimes having a shot, but if I got to play for the middle I'm used to that again, so hopefully I can start in on Saturday and put a good shift in for the team.’’

James has yet to score in 13 games for Pools since his January loan return – it’s not for the want of trying.

He went close after only 41 seconds at Brunton Park, shooting low across goal and saw a flashed shot saved by keeper Mark Gillespie in the second-half as Pools chased a leveller.

“A couple of inches wide - you've just got to keep working hard and hopefully the goals will come. I’m working on my shooting as much i can and hopefully one will drop in,’’ he said.

“I'm just not worrying about it at all, I'm just trying to do the right things in training, trying to do the right things on the pitch, getting in the right areas and hopefully luck will be on my side and I might just get one in off my shin or something like that but I’ll take any goal.’’

He added: “I'm enjoying it, I can’t let it affect me because if I'm getting a few assists or I'm helping the team then that all that matter.

“Obviously you'd like to top it off with a goal but I'm not going to worry about it, I know that all it comes down to is hard work.

“I could sit and sulk and say I'm not scoring blah blah but it gets you nowhere so you've just got to help the team as much as you can and hopefully it will start to come again.’’

Pools reserves yesterday beat Doncaster 2-0, thanks to an own goal and one from Connor Smith.