McAnuff returns to Orient action

Former West Ham captain Kevin Nolan is training with Leyton Orient (Image: EMPICS Sport)

Leyton Orient midfielder Jobi McAnuff made his first outing for the club this season as he featured for their reserve team in a defeat at Stevenage.

And Leyton Orient have also announced that former West Ham United captain Kevin Nolan will be spending time training with the club.

Jamaican international McAnuff enjoyed a successful summer with his country as he played every minute of their nine games at the Gold Cup and the Copa America respectively, scoring once.

And the 33-year-old has 11 months left on his contract at Leyton Orient, but had been linked with a move away from Brisbane Road after a trial with Championship side Blackburn Rovers last month.

McAnuff was back in an Orient shirt, though, as the second string were thrashed 5-1 at Stevenage’s training ground.

New loan signing Jack Payne played the first half and young goalkeeper Charlie Grainger, who gave away a penalty within five minutes of his Football League debut in the club’s 4-0 hammering at Exeter City on Saturday, also featured.

The O’s fell behind after 31 minutes, when Dipo Akiyemi’s shot was saved by Grainger but the ball fell to Brett Williams, who tapped home.

Akiyemi helped himself to a goal of his own six minutes later as a tidy finish doubled the home side’s advantage.

It got worse for Orient just six minutes into the second period as Williams grabbed his second of the afternoon after a fine solo run.

And a trialist scored the home side’s fourth and fifth goals, netting first from the penalty spot and then with a header from a corner.

Orient grabbed a late reply through a trialist of their own, but it was little consolation.

The 33-year-old Nolan is currently without a club having left the Hammers in the summer after a four-year spell at Upton Park.

But through his relationship with O’s head coach Ian Hendon, Nolan has linked up with Orient for an indefinite period.

Hendon said: “It is great to have such a model professional in Kevin at the club, and I am more than happy for Kevin to come in and train with the squad.

“It is good for our players to be training with a vastly experienced and talented Premier League midfielder.” Leyton Orient: Grainer, Ling, Maguire, Payne, Clark, Humphrey, McAnuff, Agyemang, Palmer, Moncur, Semedo. Subs: Sargeant, Owusu, Adeboyejo, Alderson, Happe, Trialist.