Midfielder could face Swansea friends

East London Advertiser: Ryan Hedges celebrates putting Leyton Orient ahead at Walsall (pic: Simon O'Connor)Ryan Hedges celebrates putting Leyton Orient ahead at Walsall (pic: Simon O'Connor) (Image: Simon O'Connor Photography)

Leyton Orient loanee Ryan Hedges will be hoping to return to the matchday squad for the visit of Yeovil this weekend, after missing the trip to Peterborough with a thigh strain.

Hedges, 19, had netted his first goal in professional football in Orient’s 2-0 win at Walsall and impressed in the 3-1 defeat against leaders Bristol City.

And he could face a reunion with three familiar faces at Brisbane Road on Saturday, saying: “Yeovil have three players on loan from Swansea so the game will have a few connections.”

Swansea defenders Liam Shephard and Stephen Kingsley are with the Glovers, along with midfielder Josh Sheehan, but Hedges is glad he made the move to east London.

East London Advertiser: Ryan Hedges made his Leyton Orient debut at Colchester (pic: Simon O'Connor)Ryan Hedges made his Leyton Orient debut at Colchester (pic: Simon O'Connor) (Image: Simon O'Connor Photography)

He added: “I wanted to go out and play league football and Leyton Orient wanted me. There was another League One team interested, but my agent spoke with the chief scout at Orient and that was positive.

“That gave me confidence so I picked them and it is easy to pick a team when they show how much they want you.”

Hedges put O’s ahead against Walsall, then set up Chris Dagnall for the second, and admitted it was a special day for his family.

“My Mum and Dad were there at Walsall. They have come to every home game except for one and it was a really good occasion,” he added.

“But we were a little bit unlucky against Bristol City. They are top of the league and you can see why. They were well organised.”

Hedges joined Orient on a one-month loan deal in January, but has had his stay extended until the end of the season and has eight appearances to his name so far.

Capped twice by Wales under-21s, he considers himself quite versatile and said: “Initially I was only here for a month so the aim was just to get more experience.

“For Wales under-21’s I play right wing as well, even though I am left footed and I prefer playing out wide, but I can play as the central forward.

“I am going to look to get as many starts as I can and with that I will get more confident.”