Orient keeper Lee Butcher is carried off at the weekend
Orient boss Slade set to move into the loan market
By Trevor Davies
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
6:02 PM
O’s chief ready to bring a keeper in on loan if Jones fails to recover
Orient manager Russell Slade may be forced to bring a goalkeeper in on loan later this week if Jamie Jones fails to recover from a wrist injury.
The O’s travel to mid-table rivals Bury at the weekend and will be without goalkeeper Lee Butcher, who has been ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering a knee injury last weekend.
While Jones, who has yet to play a first-team game this season after undergoing a shoulder operation in the summer, injured his wrist in training last week.
Jones, is due to train on Thursday, but if he is not fit for the trip to Gigg Lane, then Slade is set to move into the loan market.
The only other keeper at the club is 18-year-old Tom Lovelock, who has made just a solitary appearance on the bench and was recalled from a loan spell at Farnborough last week.
Lovelock played in a reserve team friendly against Spurs this afternoon, which the Premier League side won 7-3.
Tottenham duo David Button and Ben Alnwick have already spent loan spells at Brisbane Road this season as the goalkeeping position has become injury-jinxed.
Butcher was stretchered off in the final minute of Saturday’s game against Scunthorpe. After catching a corner his knee gave way as he landed.
Scans on Monday revealed anterior cruciate ligament damage which will put him out of action for at least six months.
Slade said: “Lee’s injury could not have come at a worse time for him as he was in spectacular form – the best form of his life.
“It’s so disappointing for someone who has been so consistent since getting his place back in the side.
“It wasn’t even a challenge that has led to the injury – it’s a freak accident and it’s so unfortunate.”
0 comments