Brisbane Road boss Ian Hendon discusses shape of the squad and how important it is to rest this week

Leyton Orient head coach Ian Hendon has admitted new additions could join the squad before the transfer window shuts.

It has been a busy summer already for the Brisbane Road club with nine new players signing for the E10 outfit and 15 departing on free transfers or for a transfer fee.

Although the O’s boss has always insisted he is happy to have a relatively small squad, he does accept he needs to boost the depth of the squad after Saturday’s 3-2 win at Newport County.

Former Millwall ace Alan Dunne was unavailable for that clash and it highlighted Orient’s inexperience on the bench with Ollie Palmer, 23, the oldest player Hendon could call upon.

Despite having such a youthful team, the east Londoners were able to continue their 100 per cent record this season and remain top of the League Two table.

But Hendon said: “I think there could be new additions to the squad before the transfer window shuts.

“It was tough at Newport because Alan Dunne can play an awful lot of positions and he has got a tight groin so he didn’t even travel with the squad.

“It does show we are a little bit slim in terms of squad numbers so that might be something we need to look at.”

A lot will depend on the futures of defender Shane Lowry and midfielder Jobi McAnuff, with the pair looking to move away from Brisbane Road.

If they don’t, however, then they will likely come back into the first team squad and provide Hendon with more experience and back-up.

The Orient head coach is happy to be able to wait until Saturday now for their next match – at home to Bristol Rovers.

It has a schedule of Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday since the O’s league opener against Barnet and Hendon is happy for his squad to be able to recuperate now.

He praised the fitness levels of the players, though, for allowing him to pick the same starting XI for Orient’s opening four fixtures of the league campaign.

“I haven’t really had a chance to think about Bristol Rovers. We take it one game at a time,” said Hendon.

“We had them watched against Barnet and we will concentrate on that one on Monday morning.

“It is important we rest the players. We have got a small squad and it has been the same starting team for every league game so the rest will be as important as the training this week. We will get down to work on Bristol Rovers as soon as we get the scout report on Monday.

“I have got to say being able to pick the same starting XI four times is down to the fitness of the players and the work we did over the summer.

“One or two did look a little bit tired at Newport so we have a timely break now this week. We can rest them now and hopefully come back all guns blazing against Bristol Rovers.”