Brisbane Road midfielder hoping club can beat relegation and in process send two of his former clubs down
Leyton Orient’s Lloyd James is hoping two of his former clubs suffer relegation this weekend so the “worst season of his life” can end on a positive note.
The 27-year-old has missed most of the campaign after suffering a broken leg during a 3-2 defeat at home to Rochdale on September 27.
He returned towards the end of March and has made six appearances under Fabio Liverani, but it has failed to inspire O’s up the table.
Orient currently sit 23rd and are in need of three points at Swindon Town on Sunday to give themselves a fighting chance of staying up.
The former Southampton ace has spent time at both Crawley Town and Colchester United, two of O’s rivals to avoid relegation, but is obviously hoping the Brisbane Road club remain in the division at their expense this weekend.
James said: “It has been the worst season of my life on a personal note. I have missed the majority of the season with a broken leg, but it is good to be back out there.
“At the same time it is a bit disappointing with the results we have had.
“I have been eased back in and I feel good. I am getting sharper by the game, but obviously this weekend is the last game of the season, so it is what it is.
“I have been trying to do my best and hopefully we get a result on Sunday and stay up and then from a personal note I can start again next season. I can get a full pre-season under my belt and go from there.
“I spent a little bit of time on loan at Crawley and two years at Colchester, but I am here now and obviously I want us to stay up and hopefully we will.”
A lot has been made of how contrasting this year has been for Orient compared to last season when they were a penalty away from winning the League One play-off final against Rotherham at Wembley and in the process earning promotion to the Championship.
James believes the squad can learn from the current campaign and use the experience in a positive way.
The midfielder, who has appeared only 16 times this season because of injury, is now hoping O’s can do the great escape this weekend.
“We are at different scales of the spectrum,” added James. “Obviously last year we have gone so close to going up and this year, if we stay up, we have gone so close to going down.
“We have all been in different situations and you are learning all the time. We are doing all we can to do our best and I am sure we will be okay.
“We are professional people, we know we have got a job to do and regardless of what has been happening we have just got to concentrate on Sunday and get the result.”
If Orient can do their job, they have a chance.
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