Team News: Leyton Orient vs Colchester United
Leyton Orient midfielder Liam Kelly is fouled by Cambridge United's Liam O'Neil (pic: Simon O'Connor). - Credit: Archant
Liam Kelly one of several absentees for O’s final League Two game at Brisbane Road for at least a season
Leyton Orient will be without the influential Liam Kelly for the visit of Colchester United this afternoon.
The O’s vice-captain missed the 3-0 defeat at Crewe Alexandra last weekend due to a calf problem.
Kelly went for a scan on April Friday 21 and it revealed a Grade One strain, so the all-action midfielder is set to remain on the sidelines today.
Michael Collins should be fine to start for Orient, however, after coming off at half time of Saturday’s loss.
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The midfielder, who turns 31 tomorrow, suffered a blow to his eye in the 14th minute at Crewe.
After initially carrying on, Collins was eventually brought off to restrict the threat of any lasting damage.
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But the midfielder is likely to be included in Omer Riza’s starting XI this afternoon after making a full recovery.
Sandro Semedo is also available for selection after returning from a training camp with Portugal’s under-21 squad.
It remains to be seen what position the 20-year-old will play with Riza having several options to pick from.
He could play a traditional 4-4-2 and bring Callum Kennedy back into the team and push Semedo into his natural left-wing position.
This move would result in Teddy Mezague getting dropped and Steven Alzate on the right with Collins and Henry Ochieng in the middle.
Alternatively, Riza could use 3-4-3 or a 4-1-2-1-2 formation and keep the same starting XI from last weekend.
The Orient boss played a 4-2-1-1-2 at Crewe on Saturday and got little success from the system, so is expected to move away from that tactic today.
Riza remains without a number of players this afternoon with captain Robbie Weir still working his way back following anterior cruciate ligament damage to his knee.
Gavin Massey is out due to a hamstring tear while goalkeeper duo Alex Cisak and Charlie Grainger remain on the sidelines with respective groin problems.
Nicky Hunt’s knee is still causing him trouble and Myles Judd’s back issue means he is unlikely to feature again this season.
The list of Orient players out through injury appears endless, but the ones who are fit will be aiming to end the campaign at Brisbane Road with a rare win.
