O’s talented midfielder has caught the eye in Cambridgeshire and Robbie Mason feels he deserves another deal at Brisbane Road

Soham Town Rangers boss Robbie Mason is hoping to keep Leyton Orient’s under-18 captain Charley Barker for the rest of the season after revealing the League Two club are happy with his progress.

The talented teenager has helped the Cambridgeshire outfit win their last three games to move three points clear of the Ryman North relegation zone.

Barker has been at Rangers since the middle of February and they are desperate to keep hold of the diminutive midfielder.

Mason said: “Hopefully we can keep ‘Chaz’ for the run-in because if he was recalled it would be a big loss.

“The first two or three weeks understandably he has come out of youth football into a men’s game and the Ryman North isn’t the most technical of football - it is big, rash and raw football and you don’t get much time on the ball.

“But now he is accustomed to it and he has changed his game accordingly and Orient have been down to watch him and are pleased with his performances.

“They are seeing it as a beneficial experience for ‘Chaz’, so I am hoping we can keep him for our remaining games as they are very crucial.

“We are out of the relegation zone now, but it is up to us to kick on and keep hold of our place in the league.”

Barker is one of several second-year scholars at Brisbane Road waiting to find out what the future holds.

The likes of Josh Koroma, Steven Alzate, Tristan Abrahams, Myles Judd, Henry Ochieng and Sam Dalby have signed professional terms with Orient this season.

Last season Aron Pollock and Sam Sargeant penned pro contacts with O’s and Barker could be the next to potentially join them.

Orient coaches rate the midfielder highly and he has bounced back well following a serious back injury back in September.

Soham Town manager Mason believes Barker deserves to either sign a pro deal or get a third-year scholarship.

He added: “I think ‘Chaz’ is more than good enough to earn a contract at Orient and his work ethic for a young lad is brilliant.

“You get a lot of youngsters who come into football now and expect £150 or £200 a week and they have been in the game two minutes.

“It is nice to see him putting his heart on the line for our club along with the rest of the lads who have been here all year.

“He has a winning mentality and technically he is excellent and there is not much he can’t do.

“It is difficult coming to this level from somewhere like Orient due to the difference in pitches, so you do need a good first touch and then to think about playing rather than just playing it straight away.

“He has come around to it and is learning all the time and you can see his game improving. This loan has been beneficial for him and Orient have mentioned that, so it is working for him and us and hopefully it gets him a deal.”