Spurs loan watch: Mixed bag across the capital for Tottenham youngster so far

Since moving to Leyton Orient on a season-long loan earlier this summer, Jamie Donley has already experienced the highs and lows of senior football, both individually and collectively. 

His debut for Orient ended up with the O’s conceding an injury-time equaliser after he had already been substituted around the 70th-minute mark. 

Then, on Saturday — Orient lost 2-1 to title favourites Birmingham City, with Donley playing the 90 minutes. He played as a right-winger this game, having started in the number ten role on his debut the week before. Tough collectively, encouraging individually. 

Last night was the opposite. Donley only played nine minutes, but Richie Wellens’ side were able to knock Championship side Millwall out of the Carabao Cup, in an impressive result away at The Den. Former Spurs defender Japhet Tanganga was an unused substitute for the hosts.

Nevertheless, another cup victory for Orient means another game for Donley to potentially play in. With the Premier League sides who qualified for Europe entering the third round, Donley could have a game against the likes of City and Liverpool. 

Spurs loan watch: Mixed bag across the capital for Tottenham youngster so far

They could also draw Tottenham, but whether or not Donley would be eligible to play is another question. 

The two sides were actually drawn against each other in the 2020 edition of the Carabao Cup, but a COVID outbreak in the Orient squad meant they had to forfeit the tie - as the next round was only one week later. 

As for the league campaign, Orient and Donley travel to Shropshire to play Shrewsbury Town on Saturday — in what already feels like a very important game.

Shrewsbury are the only side in League One other than Orient to take zero points from the first three games. They have been tipped by many pundits to be relegated, so it is a massive opportunity for Donley and his counterparts to make up for lost time so far and get their first points on the board.