Leicester City midfielder Matty James has joined Sky Bet Championship side Barnsley on loan for the rest of the season.

James missed the entirety of Leicester's Premier League title run last season after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament against Southampton on the final day of the 2014-15 campaign.

The 25-year-old ended up spending 19 months on the sidelines before making his first-team return in December, when he came off the bench for a couple of minutes in their 4-2 win over Manchester City.

James' only other appearances this season have come for Leicester's U23 squad, including a couple of games in the Checkatrade Trophy.

Barnsley head coach Paul Heckingbottom said: "Matty is a player that we have tracked for a while.

"He has shown a real passion and desire to be here and help the Club continue our rise up the league and that's exactly what we need at Barnsley Football Club.

"He will fit straight into the mentality that we already have within the squad and adds much needed quality as well as versatility to our midfield areas.

"He brings Premier League experience along with a knowledge of how to get promoted in the Football League as well.

"I know that there was other interest and we had to fight that off, but ultimately it was Matty's decision and he picked to join us and this shows that we can attract players from the best league in the world."