Leyton Orient boss Andy Hessenthaler is hoping Jay Simpson is available on Tuesday night as the O’s take on Stevenage at Brisbane Road.

The O’s lost 1-0 at home in their first home game of the season against Newport as Jamie Turley scored the only goal of the game from a corner in the 34th minute.

The opening ten minutes of the game looked good for Orient but they failed to capitalise on their goal scoring opportunities.

Hessenthaler said: “As far as I am aware Jay has done some good training today, he has been ill and hopefully after speaking to the fitness and physio coach on Monday he will be available for selection on Tuesday.

“The time is ticking in terms of the loan window and the transfer deadline finishing at the end of the month.

“As a manager you’d like to know, and as far as I’m concerned Jay Simpson is still our player.

“He has got to get on with playing for Leyton Orient Football Club and that is how I see it.

“He is sitting behind us in the stand and there is just 25 goals sitting there.

“But no one has made an offer for Jay and as far as I am concerned he is under contract and he is our player so we need him available for Tuesday night.”

Nigel Atangana came on as a second half substitute and brought some life back into the game for Orient as his shot was deflected behind for a corner two minutes after coming on the pitch.

With the Frenchmen in fine form after his great display in the EFL Cup first round against Fulham where the O’s went onto lose 3-2, the 50-year-old was full of praise for the midfielder.

“I think on Nigel’s performance today he has to start the game on Tuesday,” he added.

“I am not going to lie and hide behind it, I thought he was excellent when he came on and it would be very hard to leave Nigel out of the starting XI on Tuesday.

“It is as simple as that really.”

Orient take on Stevenage at Brisbane Road on Tuesday kicking off at 7:45pm.