The O’s head coach Ian Hendon reveals delight at finally bringing young midfielder to the club

Leyton Orient will have midfielder Jack Payne available for their League Two encounter at Exeter City after finally agreeing a deal with Peterborough United to bring him to Brisbane Road.

The 23-year-old has been linked with Ian Hendon’s side all summer and even travelled with the O’s squad for their pre-season training camp in Spain back in July.

But a deal between Orient and Posh wasn’t resolved until just before the close of the transfer window on Tuesday.

Payne has moved to E10 on a season-long loan and Hendon is delighted to have him on board.

“It is a bit of good news on Jack finally. It’s been a long old process trying to get him and finally it got done on Tuesday at the last minute,” said Hendon.

“We were hoping we could have him on the bench at Luton for the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy game, but the paperwork and other stuff never got done in time and we didn’t get the clearance.

“It is nice to have Jack on board and it has been a long old task getting him to the club.”

Now that Payne has moved to Orient, the concern might have been an injury crisis at Peterborough would see him return to his parent club.

But that isn’t the case and the O’s and Hendon are very much keen to make the deal a permanent one if the switch is a success.

The former Gillingham man is expected to be on the bench when the O’s try to make it six league wins from six on Saturday.

Hendon added: “It is a season-long loan and there is no recall clause. That wouldn’t have helped anybody. Jack has been desperate to come and has been like that since pre-season.

“We are delighted to have him now. There are a few clauses in his contract and if things go well then hopefully we will get him at the end of the season.

“He has played a few reserve games and had an appearance for Peterborough a few weeks back so we have got to get him up to speed.

“It would have been ideal if we could have used him at Luton, but that wasn’t to be. When we look at our midfield at the moment, are we likely to change it for Exeter? Probably not.”