Leyton Orient forward Paul McCallum glad to show he can still score goals after Fulham brace
Paul McCallum celebrates his second goal for Leyton Orient against Fulham (pic: Simon O'Connor). - Credit: Archant
After coming back from serious injury last year, former West Ham United striker can’t stop scoring for League Two club
Leyton Orient forward Paul McCallum admits he is glad his form over the last few weeks has shown to everybody that he can still score goals.
The 23-year-old suffered cruciate knee ligament damage last September and didn’t return until the final day of the 2015/16 campaign.
After coming back for pre-season this summer, the ex-West Ham United striker has netted in friendlies at Woking, Dagenham & Redbridge and Greenwich Borough.
Last night McCallum scored two powerful headers during O’s 3-2 defeat to Fulham in the first round of the English Football League Cup.
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Dean Cox, who also suffered cruciate knee ligament damage last season, assisted both goals at Brisbane Road.
“You always hear that people who have done their ACL’s come back and are never the same again. I feel fit and ready and I’m glad I can still score goals,” said McCallum.
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“Like I said ‘Coxy’s’ delivery is second to none in this division, even the division above. He knows where to put the ball and I thrive off crosses into the box.”
The Orient number 10 felt they were unlucky not to take the Championship outfit to extra-time yesterday.
Dennis Adeniran opened the scoring for Fulham in the 29th minute and it remained that way until half time.
Cauley Woodrow’s quick brace put the Whites in control before the hour mark and then Cox and McCallum were introduced.
The substitutes first combined in the 73rd minute and then again eight minutes later, but it finished 3-2 to the west Londoners.
McCallum added: “We did have chances and especially towards the end of the game, but they just weren’t falling for us.
“It is a cup game and you always want to be in the next round, we were disappointed we didn’t take it to extra time, but the league is our focus and we want to get promoted.”
Orient aren’t favourites for the title this year, but are fourth in the betting behind Portsmouth, Luton Town and Doncaster Rovers.
McCallum doesn’t pay much attention to the odds, however believes the squad at Brisbane Road is good enough to achieve their target for the campaign.
“We were favourites to go up last year, but nobody pays much interest to that – we know what our goals are,” said the 23-year-old.
“Our goal is to get promoted, regardless of what anybody else thinks, even if we go up through the play-offs or win the league. We know within our squad that we are good enough and we should be getting promoted.”
If Orient are to get back into League One, you would expect McCallum to play a big role. They missed him desperately last season and it’s great for everyone connected with the club to see him in the goals again.