Brisbane Road boss should have a number of players available again for National League trip to Stonebridge Road on Saturday

East London Advertiser: Leyton Orient club captain David Mooney has a first half shot blocked by Gillingham defender Connor Ogilvie (pic: Simon O'Connor).Leyton Orient club captain David Mooney has a first half shot blocked by Gillingham defender Connor Ogilvie (pic: Simon O'Connor). (Image: Simon O'Connor Photography)

Leyton Orient head coach Steve Davis should have a nice selection headache going into Saturday’s National League match with Ebbsfleet United.

The O’s lost 2-1 at Gillingham last weekend in the first round of the FA Cup, but were missing several players.

James Brophy and Mark Ellis were not given permission by Swindon Town or Carlisle United to feature in the competition.

Meanwhile, Dan Happe (ankle) and Jobi McAnuff (toe) were absent, yet all three are set to return at Stonebridge Road.

Davis said: “Jobi has been struggling with his toe. We thought he had broken it, so he went to get it x-rayed and it is just bruising.

“He will train on Tuesday I think, so we should have Ellis, Brophy, Dan Happe and Brophy all available for the weekend and we are starting to get a few back now.”

Competition for places is something Orient have struggled with since suffering a plethora of injuries in September.

More issues arose in October, but with Josh Coulson nearing fitness again and George Elokobi pushing to return towards the end of December, things are looking better.

“We haven’t had enough selection problems, particularly at the back and we’ve had to bring Mark in and play different people,” said Davis.

“We haven’t had a settled back four or five since George and Coulson got injured, so that’s been our biggest problem.”

Joe Widdowson’s red card on Saturday means he won’t feature for Orient at Ebbsfleet this weekend.

The former Dagenham & Redbridge defender had looked assured again as part of a back five.

But two bookings in quick succession saw Widdowson receive his marching orders and he’ll be absent at Fleet.

Davis added: “Joe has done well in that left-sided centre back position, but obviously if Dan is fit he will fill in and that will give us cover and a natural balance if he is fit.”

Macauley Bonne will miss Saturday’s match as well after joining the Zimbabwe squad this week, but with plenty of options available, O’s will look to get back to winning ways in the division.