Orient Official Site O's Face Carling Cup Injury Crisis
ORIENT boss Martin Ling is facing an injury crisis ahead of Tuesday's Carling Cup Round One clash at Queens Park Rangers.
Six of his first team squad are ruled out with various injury problems, while Stephen Purches and Tamika Mkandawire will both undergo late fitness tests before Ling will decide on their availability.
Alton Thelwell and Jabo Ibehre (both ankle) missed Saturday's victory over Southend, and they will also have to sit out at Loftus Road.
Sean Thornton (thigh), Brian Saah (hamstring), Purches (calf) and Mkandawire (foot) all picked up knocks in that derby success over the Shrimpers, with Thornton's and Saah's problems ruling them out of contention for Tuesday.
Ling will be forced in to a reshuffle and he told leytonorient.com: "It's going to be a bit of a makeshift side, but hopefully the two who are facing fitness tests will come through.
"It's disappointing that we will have so many out tomorrow, but none of the injuries are serious.
"I may have made a couple of changes anyway, but these have now been forced on me. What it will do is give the likes of Paul Terry and Jason Demetriou a chance to come into the side, and of course the lads are full of confidence after Saturday's result."
Orient
Martin Rowlands - QPR OFFICIAL SITE - CUP RUN ESSENTIAL
Martin Rowlands insists it's 'about time' Rangers enjoyed a decent run in the Carling Cup.
The R's midfielder is eager to avoid a similar disappointment to last year, when Rangers bowed out at the second round stage at the hands of League One outfit Port Vale.
"Cup competitions are very important,'' he told www.qpr.co.uk.
"It's about time we did something in the knockout competitions and that starts tomorrow against Leyton Orient.
"Since I've been here we've really struggled in the Cup competitions and I don't want to be saying that again this time next season!"
Speaking ahead of the Leyton Orient tie, Rowlands added: "It's important for the fans and players alike.
"A good Cup run breeds confidence and that can only be good for our League programme." QPR
TEAMTALK - Rs hope to have Dexter fit
QPR hope to have main striker Dexter Blackstock available ...taken off with a hamstring problem during the 2-2 draw at Bristol City on the opening day of the Championship season, but this was thought to have been merely a precautionary measure.
Rangers will definitely be without on-loan Chelsea striker Ben Sahar, who faces up to five weeks on the sidelines after undergoing an appendectomy at the weekend, as well as midfielder Hogan Ephraim, who cannot play under the terms of his loan deal from West Ham. Defenders Danny Cullip and Marcus Bignot have resumed full training after missing the match at Ashton Gate due to injury, and they could be included in boss John Gregory's starting line-up for the first-round tie against the Os.
Defender Pat Kanyuka (thigh), winger Gareth Ainsworth (ankle) and forward Ray Jones (foot) remain sidelined. Teamtalk
QPR Official Site - BEN ON THE MEND
Posted on: Mon 13 Aug 2007
Ben Sahar could return to full training within 'two or three' weeks.
R's physio Paul Hunter spoke to www.qpr.co.uk this morning and confirmed that Sahar - who had an appendix operation on Saturday night - could be set for a quicker than expected return to the Rangers squad.
"Ben complained of general stomach pain in the team hotel on Friday evening. Although he felt better later on, when I saw him on Saturday morning, I felt it prudent to get him checked out,'' Hunter told www.qpr.co.uk.
"He was taken to the Bristol Royal Infirmary and had an ultrasound scan, which revealed he was suffering from acute appendicitis.
"This was successfully treated with keyhole surgery on Saturday afternoon, and he was able to leave hospital yesterday (Sunday)."
Hunter continued: "He has been checked over by the Chelsea medical team today (Monday), and I am in regular contact with them and Dr Bryan English (CFC Doctor).
"Ben's rehabilitation has already been planned out.
"Owing to the speed of diagnosis and the type of surgery Ben's undergone, it means the recovery time is a lot shorter than it could have been.
"Ben will return to training as the pain allows. Potentially, he could be back to full training within two or three weeks." QPR
ALSO: QPR Report "Next Up: Leyton Orient"
