Orient number one full of praise for Charlie Grainger and discusses working under Lee Harrison

Leyton Orient will be without goalkeeper Alex Cisak for two matches after this weekend’s clash with Bristol Rovers, but the Australian has backed his replacement to keep Ian Hendon’s team top of the League Two table.

The 26-year-old Cisak has been selected to represent his country in two World Cup qualifiers next month against Bangladesh (September 3) and Tajikistan (September 8).

It means either Charlie Grainger or Gary Woods will be selected for the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy clash at Kenilworth Road against Luton Town next Tuesday (September 1) and the League Two contest at Exeter City on September 5.

Cisak believes both are more than capable of standing in and praised the potential of 19-year-old Grainger.

He said: “I don’t mind somebody coming in to replace me and doing well while I am away, as long as the team is winning really.

“I know that if I play badly then ‘Chaz’ can come in or ‘Woodsy’ can play, so it is up to me to do well and keep my number one position.

“Charlie definitely has a big future ahead as long as he keeps on training the way he does and keeps improving. I am sure he will do well in the game. He has been pushing me in training, as has Gary Woods.”

This season Cisak is working with goalkeeper coach Lee Harrison and the former Burnley stopper believes he will get better the longer he keeps training under the 43-year-old.

Harrison, who also played for Orient, boasts an impressive CV in the game having worked at West Ham United previously as well as Newport County and Wycome Wanderers.

Cisak said: “Under Lee’s goalkeeper training I am sure we will all improve and keep pushing each other.

“I have enjoyed training under him and I feel like I have learnt a lot already since I have joined the club.

“Come the end of the season there will be a big difference in my performances because of Lee and hopefully I can keep going and pushing on to be a better goalkeeper.”

That would be a positive for Orient and Hendon, as Cisak has already demonstrated this year how vital he will be and the Aussie will most likely win the O’s more points as the season progresses, just not at Exeter!