33-year-old feels Josh Koroma and Sam Dalby can learn about ‘the nasty side of the game’ from Paul McCallum

Danny Webb has backed his young Leyton Orient forwards to learn quickly after a difficult afternoon against Grimsby Town on Saturday.

The O’s lost 3-0 and struggled to significantly test the Mariners goalkeeper James McKeown throughout.

Sam Dalby and Josh Koroma got little joy at the weekend and their manager admitted they could do with learning from Paul McCallum.

Webb said: “Sandro (Semedo) put in some great crosses into the area and sometimes they don’t look as good because no one is getting across the goal, but you can’t have too much of a go at Dalby or Josh because they are brand new to it.

“They are 17 and 18 and they did some other stuff, so I just said to them it is little things like that where you need to learn from ‘Macca’ about the nasty side of the game.

“Once or twice you need to put the goalkeeper on the floor and give away a foul, just to let him know you are there.

“But that will come with those young lads, although the fact we still looked like an attacking threat was great.”

Semedo delivered several balls into the area, which McCallum would have relished had he been on the pitch.

The O’s top goalscorer is currently out due to a dislocated fibula, which he originally suffered on January 28 at Mansfield Town.

McCallum returned from the injury at Yeovil Town and despite struggling went on to play another three games.

But the ex-West Ham United striker is now set for a spell on the sidelines and will miss the match at Accrington Stanley tonight.

“There is no chance Paul can play at Accrington. He came back with the injury and I think we knew even after he was out for a while, he would feel pain in it until the end of the season,” said Webb.

“I said as soon as that pain got too much where he couldn’t move, then he couldn’t go on the pitch, so that is the case at the moment.

“We are looking at him missing a month, so that is disappointing, but it is something else I have got to deal with and I will do that the best I can.”

The Orient boss has to make arrangements about a new physio too with his namesake Peter Webb set to depart at some point this month.

“His last game is Doncaster Rovers and I think initially, it hasn’t been confirmed yet, but we are looking at the youth team physio (Josh Birtwistle) stepping up alongside our sports therapist,” said the O’s manager.

“Josh was sitting behind the dug-out, but it is good for him to get used to the first-team environment and how quick things need to be done. If he is going to step up then it is obviously good for him to get a feel for it on a match day.”

Birtwistle is expected to be alongside the Orient staff at Accrington Stanley tonight.