Opinion: Emerging Leyton Orient prospect has warranted new deal, contract expiry nearing
16/04/2024 10:33
Leyton Orient will be playing League One football again next season and it won’t be long before summer plans are put into action.
Leyton Orient sit 10th in the League One table following a thoroughly impressive first season back in the third-tier. They’re far clear of the relegation battle and once looked as though they could be outsiders for a late play-off charge.
That petered out, but this has been a good season regardless. Now, the priority will be building for an even better 2024/25 campaign, so the upcoming summer transfer window will be of great importance.
Before moves can be made for potential new additions though, the Os will have to get contracts in order.
Decisions need to be made over a handful of senior and youth players, and some will be harder than others. However, one player who has warranted an extension to their current deal is emerging midfield prospect Zech Obiero.
One for the future
Obiero had been in and around the first-team picture before this season and was named on the bench for four of the first five League One games. However, he had to wait until March for his first third-tier outing, coming off the bench against Port Vale.
His next outing would come three games later, with Richie Wellens thrusting him into the starting XI against Cheltenham Town. The move paid off too, with Obiero impressing in a 3-1 win.
A 75-minute outing against Exeter City followed that before another appearance off the bench against Derby County last time out.
Obiero’s deal is up at the end of this season and this increase in game time has given him a chance to impress Wellens. His performances have caught the eye too, and it should be reason for Leyton Orient to extend his stay and continue developing him moving forward.
At only 19, Orient will need to be patient with the Kenyan prospect’s development. While he’s featured more regularly of late, it could be that his minutes are managed a bit more if and when a deal is penned.
Obiero has shown enough to warrant a stay at Brisbane Road though. It would be interesting to see just what the plans are for him moving forward but amid his recent outings, the midfield starlet is one the Os should be keeping to develop into a future first-team regular.
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