LATEST NEWS: Taylor re-signs for Posh

The broken leg suffered by Lee Angol in last Saturday’s (July 9) friendly draw at Boston United is likely to keep him out for months rather than weeks, which forced Posh to seek a replacement.

Taylor’s return to the professional game - he had been on trial at Posh for a week after spending a year on the sidelines - had also attracted the interest of big-spending League One rivals Charlton.

Taylor showed flashes of skill in a friendly at Boreham Wood on Tuesday (July 12) and the club have rewarded him with a short-term contract as new manager Grant McCann believes he can re-kindle his old team-mate’s form.

McCann said: “It is a great signing for us. A fit Paul Taylor is one of the best players in this league, if not beyond, so we are hopefully going to get him fit. He is going to do some extra sessions with Ben Mackenzie.

“He has looked sharp but we obviously need to step it up fitness-wise. Paul is looking forward to it and everyone is looking forward to having him at the club.

“He is direct. He will get at teams. He works hard and since he left the club we can see that he has been coached well and that is not surprising because he has been at some big clubs like Nottingham Forest, Ipswich Town, Rotherham and Blackburn Rovers. He has had some good coaching and hopefully we can add to that,”

Posh could also field a trialist striker in Saturday’s (July 16) friendly with Championship side Norwich City at the ABAX Stadium.

Posh director of football Barry Fry said: “Grant also had a trialist striker training with us yesterday and he could play. He’s a well-known player who hasn’t made the most of his ability in recent seasons and is currently without a club.”

New teenage striker Matty Stevens will miss the Norwich match to attend a family wedding, He is likely to make his first Posh appearance in a youth fixture at Bedford on Monday (July 18).

Fry also reports that unwanted midfielder Jack Payne, who is netering the last season of his contract, is resisting a free transfer move to League Two side Plymouth. League One club Oldham have also shown an interest in Payne and fellow transfer-listed midfielder Harry Beautyman.

“Jack needs to sort himself out quickly,” Fry added. “Otherwise he will sit in the stands for a season. Who would take a chance on him then? He could end up driving a lorry for a living!”

Posh remain interested in taking left-back Callum Elder on loan from Leicester, but he has travelled on the Premier League champion’s pre-season trip to Austria.

Posh still haven’t reached an agreement with Crystal Palace over a ‘sell-on’ payment for former striker Dwight Gayle who moved from Selhurst Park to Newcastle United for £10 million earlier this month.