Orient boss previews Johnstone’s Paint Trophy clash and discusses who will replace number one Alex Cisak

Leyton Orient travel to League Two rivals Luton Town tonight (Tuesday) for a Johnstone’s Paint Trophy clash and head coach Ian Hendon admits a lot of his squad are struggling with injuries.

JPT rules state that the O’s have to include six players that started Saturday’s match with Bristol Rovers at Brisbane Road.

Two of them are already unavailable with captain Mathieu Baudry set to miss out with an ankle injury and goalkeeper Alex Cisak away on international duty with Australia.

But the Orient boss will do his best to put out the strongest side he possibly can, he said: “We can’t rest players in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, we have to play so many players that played against Bristol Rovers.

“It is not a case of resting them as we picked up a few injuries on Saturday. There were a couple that carried things through until the end of the match.

“If we can put as strong a side out as we can then we will do. It is another game, we know it is there so we have to put a side out to compete against Luton.”

Dean Cox is somebody that could be rested because of a tight hamstring while Bradley Pritchard may also sit this one out.

The big decision for Hendon is who to play in goal with number one Cisak away and it seems young Charlie Grainger could get his opportunity.

Grainger has appeared on the substitute’s bench a number of times, but has yet to make his competitive debut for the club.

But the Orient head coach will almost certainly hand starts to Blair Turgott and Ollie Palmer.

“It could be Charlie Grainger’s chance. We have got two good goalkeepers here,” said Hendon when asked about whether the young goalkeeper could be selected ahead of Gary Woods.

“Dean has been carrying a bit of a tight hamstring, he came off against Newport County because of that so we have got to be careful.

“We have a small squad and we can’t afford to lose players. ‘Coxy’ is one doubt, Alan Dunne has been nursing a groin injury that he had so we don’t want to subject him to one and a half games in a week.

“He doesn’t need a full 90 minutes against Luton if any minutes. It was a tough game against Bristol Rovers and Pritchard came off with a knock so we’ll have to assess everything.”