Callum Kennedy is confident Nicky Hunt can easily step into the captain role and help Leyton Orient to their first win in six after Liam Kelly came off injured in their 1-0 loss to Portsmouth.

Kelly played five minutes of the first half at Brisbane Road before he fell down to the ground beside the dugouts before being stretchered off the pitch on Saturday.

Captain Robbie Weir is still serving his three match suspension after he was sent off in the first minute of their 2-0 loss to Plymouth Argyle in what was Andy Edwards’ first game in charge.

“Hunt is quality, he has always been quality every day since I joined in the summer, and obviously he was here at the end of last season as well,” said the 26-year-old.

“He has been there, he has done it, he is a great guy and he is experienced. He is definitely a relaxing persona in the dressing room and he keeps everyone calm, he fills everyone with confidence.

“Nicky is definitely the right man for the job.”

But what is a big blow for the Os is Kelly joins a long list of midfield absentees as the likes of Nigel Atangana and Harry Cornick are spending periods of time on the side lines.

Atangana looks the more likely one out of the three to make a return first but fell short of full fitness in time for Saturday’s match against Pompey.

Kennedy added: “It is a huge blow losing Liam, just knowing he is out there on the pitch, he is our vice-captain, and on Saturday he was captain as Robbie was suspended, it is a big blow for us.

“It seems that is the way things go, and when a few things go wrong, I think the saying is when it rains it pours, in terms of injuries and suspensions it is not ideal. But again it is one of those things.

“It can happen to anyone, it can happen to any team it is one of them things we have to overlook and overcome and look forward.

“Kels will work hard to come back, he is the model professional, and he will be back before you know it.

“And hopefully by the time he comes back we will be high flying and he will come back into a team that is full of confidence.”

Orient’s last recorded a win on September 3 in their 2-1 win over Morecambe and have since drawn two and lost four.

Luton Town make the trip to Brisbane Road on Saturday and fifth in the League Two table following a four game unbeaten run.

The Os now sit 20th six points off the promotion places but only two off the relegation zone but Kennedy believes this side can climb back up the table.

He added: “I think if we had won against Portsmouth it would have been a massive boost and everyone would have been talking about how we have a week before Luton.

“Then we go into the Luton game thinking we are going to go on and win this game as well and everything changes.

“All we need to do is dust ourselves off again and against Luton we kick start again, we win that game and we crack on.

“I think for whatever reason it is every game in this league is a tough game. If you are up against a team that is up there, then you know there is going to be some quality in their team.

“And if it is one of the team’s down the bottom they are going to be one of those teams that are hard to play against for their own reasons.

“I think in this league and most of the football league it is just about consistency, it is a slog, it is a long season we are not having a great spell at the moment.

“But that is not to say, anything is possible, we just have to work hard, stick together and we will be alright.”