The right-back returned from injury earlier than expected to help the O’s remain at the top of the National League table
Ross Embleton hailed the effort of Leyton Orient full-back Sam Ling following the club’s 2-0 win at home to Gateshead in the National League on Saturday.
Josh Koroma’s stunner in the 59th minute put the O’s ahead before Macauley Bonne wrapped up the victory with a goal in stoppage time.
Ling, 21, was chucked into the team ahead of schedule following an ankle injury and although he admitted he was rusty after not playing since October 27, the effort of the former youth-teamer couldn’t be questioned.
“We probably put ‘Lingy’ back in earlier than we anticipated given the form we are in and how well Myles (Judd) has done, but the fact ‘Lingy’ put his body on the line deserves a lot of credit,” Embleton said.
“It was probably a week before we expected him to play because we had looked at Haringey Borough as a chance for him to get some vital minutes, but to put himself forward and step into Judd’s shoes when he is not at full fitness deserves real credit.”
Ling only played after regular right-back Judd suffered a hamstring injury during Friday’s training session.
Embleton admitted the initial hope is the problem will not keep the youngster out for too long.
He added: “Myles pulled up with an injury on Friday and he is due to go for a scan on Monday to find out the severity of it.
“He had a problem with his hamstring and obviously he has played a lot of football in recent times, so we are hoping it is not anything particularly serious.”
As Embleton mentioned, if Ling had not played on Saturday he would have been part of an O’s XI which will travel to Haringey Borough this evening.
The 7.45pm kick-off at Coles Park will see Orient take on Tom Loizou’s in-form team again.
It is a second round tie in the London Senior Cup and the winners will book a trip to National League South outfit Welling United in the quarter-finals of the competition.
“When you see the game is advertised as a Leyton Orient XI it will be an XI because you will have six or seven who you would class as professionals in the group and then the rest will be youth-team players,” Embleton confirmed.
There will most likely be a competitive debut for teenager goalkeeper Arthur Janata, who has recently enjoyed a successful loan spell at Waltham Abbey, who ply their trade in the Bostik South Central – a division below Haringey in the Bostik Premier.
Sam Sargeant suffered an ankle injury in November while Charlie Grainger had to have an operation on a broken wrist last month.
Embleton added: “It is crazy how it happens all at once. You have every goalkeeper fit and Arthur out on loan and then Sargeant gets an injury and Charlie breaks his wrist, which is a long-term one for Charlie, so Arthur will play at Haringey.”
The club have also confirmed George Elokobi, Dan Happe, Alex Lawless, James Alabi and Matt Harrold will feature tonight.
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